‘‘‘…In Pain You Shall Bring Forth Children, Yet Your Desire Shall Be For Your Husband…’’’ Genesis 3:16 NRS
In the Garden of Eden God told Eve, ‘‘‘…in pain you shall bring forth children…’’’ But He didn’t leave it there, He went on to say, ‘‘‘…yet your desire shall be for your husband…’’’ ‘God promised to restore the relationship between the man and the woman and that it’s return would be signified by rekindled desire. That’s because He knows there’s no cure for past pain like present desire. When the longing for something is powerful enough, it can wipe out the pain of the past, making the wounded and weary rise again with renewed energy and purpose. Ask any woman who’s just given birth to a much-anticipated child if it was worth all that she went through. Chances are she’d do it again in a heartbeat just to experience the joy of holding that little one in her arms.
Maybe you’ve experienced a tragedy that has left you feeling indifferent about the future, or a heartbreak that has you still reeling in pain. You may even have tried to rationalise it by telling yourself, ‘As long as I don’t care, it won’t hurt.’ The fear of being wounded again is very real; a burned child dreads the fire. But you can’t live the rest of your life in fear. God wants to revive your passion today and give you a future filled with hope (see Jeremiah 29:11 & Job 11:18). Are you willing to let Him renew your desire and wipe out the pain of the past? He will! All you have to do is surrender to His love today and He’ll do the rest.
Soul Food Reading: Ex 28-29; Luke 14:15-24; Ps 106:1-23; Prov 7:1-2
Excerpt from The Word For Today, United Christian Broadcasters (UCB); PO Box 255, Stoke-On-Trent, ST4 8YY, England. Free issues of the daily devotional are available for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
