“Kapag naghihirap na ang isang babaing manganganak, siya’y nahahapis, sapagkat dumating na ang oras ng kanyang paghihirap. Ngunit pagkapanganak niya, hindi na niya naaalala ang hirap; nagagalak siya dahil sa pagsilang ng isang sanggol sa sanlibutan.”

Juan 16:21

Anya is in the last trimester of her pregnancy and is starting to worry about labor pains. Marami na kasi siyang narinig na stories of how painful and hard kapag nagle-labor na ang isang buntis. She was comforted through the words of her OB-GYN who said, “Don’t worry about the pain because labor pains will help the mother push the baby out. Part iyan ng process of giving birth. It is a necessary pain you need to feel to give birth to a miracle.”

Like Anya, as much as possible, ayaw nating makaramdam ng sakit or discomfort sa buhay. We find ways kung paano makakaiwas dito. We fear the pain, we fear the worst. Sino ba naman ang may gusto na makaramdam ng pain, di ba?

This fear of pain stops us from trying for the first time. From trying again after a failure. From seeing and enjoying the fruits of our labor. But God wants us to experience life without fear. He wants us to experience joy despite going through pain. Christians are not exempt from painful experiences, but we have this confidence that God will see us through our ups and downs. Nangamba ang mga disciple nang sabihin sa kanila ni Jesus na darating ang panahon na hindi na nila Siya makikita (Juan 16:16–18), kaya sinabi ni Jesus, “Sinabi ko ito sa inyo upang kayo’y magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa pakikipag-isa sa akin. Magdaranas kayo ng kapighatian sa mundong ito, ngunit tibayan ninyo ang inyong loob! Napagtagumpayan ko na ang sanlibutan!” (v. 33). Ganito rin ang sinasabi ni Jesus sa atin ngayon.

At the end of every pain, we’ll witness miracles and answered prayers if we trust in Jesus Christ. Kapag nangyari ‘yun, we’ll definitely sing, “I got joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!”