Disquieted moments, although they do not feel good, they have a purpose. If we search the Bible and study the life of King David, we will discover why he wrote these poetic words. The soul is a combination of your emotions that we house or transfer our emotions from within our hearts and minds. Trials of the world can make a person bitter, despondent or stronger. I hope you choose the latter. Each individual chooses how to handle their trials. I will call it labor pains.

When a woman’s due date comes, she has what is called contractions. Labor contractions are forceful motions of the uterus generated by the release of “quick labor,” by the pituitary gland, culminating in childbirth. When the uterus contracts, it often causes pain — ranging from a mild twinge to severe contractions. With labor contractions, it hard for a woman to speak. The pain often lasts longer before labor, or before the actual birth of the infant. This is how it is for the Christian believer in the spiritual realm. Labor contractions are what hurts the most. How far apart are your contractions? I have heard many testimonies from others enduring their spiritual labor pains, and how the Lord spoke mightily to them or they saw a vision.

We have been fighting for so long that it has become instinct to shift into our defensive modes. Immediately, we think we are called to bear arms. When the storm comes, and trust me, they will come. When I say that, I get so many looks of concern. Why do you have to say that? Please, do not bring me bad news. I am only being real, as real as the storms that come your way. To be forwarned is to be forarmed. It takes some reprogramming to lean in the storm. Instinct tells us to fight. I was like a drowning victim. When a drowning victim panics, they endanger their rescuers. I have gathered some information regarding drowning victims from WikiHow, and I realized how befitting that information was to me, as it mirrored my feelings of being overwhelmed in my tests. Have you ever felt like you were drowning in a sea of emotions? Your tests and struggles seems to hit you back to back, you can barely catch your breath. I hail these moments, as Job attacks.

What Did Job Lose?

1 First, Sabeans slaughtered his servants and took away his oxen and donkeys.

2 Second, a fire from heaven had consumed his sheep and servants with them.

3 Third, the Chaldeans formed raiding parties and carried away his camels, killing the servants with them.

4 Fourth, a mighty wind brought down the house his sons and daughters were eating in, collapsing and killing them all. Each time, a servant delivered the message, had escaped the catastrophe.

5 Fifth, Job became diseased with painful sores all over his body. Job was forced to relieve his pain by scraping himself with a piece of broken pottery.

Take a moment, and I do literally mean that. That a moment, to breathe in and out, because as the word declares and decrees and so MUST we: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10. That’s the word! Declare and decree it and so shall it be unto you.

(Editor’s note: Vanessa Richardson can be reached at vanessajackso90@hotmail.com)