Travail

travail:
a noun meaning "painful or laborious effort" or a verb meaning "to engage in painful or laborious effort."

I have been pondering this word a lot lately. The Word speaks of travail in Galatians4:19-20 where Paul says, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ is formed in you.” Matthew Henry’s commentary says in part that Paul is expressing affection and concern for the welfare of the Galatians. Not a passing concern but a “sincere concern for their truest advantage.” They thought he was their enemy, but he tries to reassure them that “he had the bowels of a parent towards them.” He expresses his earnest thoughts for them not only physically but spiritually using the travailing (birthing) woman idea. He was in pain for them that Christ might be formed in them, so they would become real Christians indeed, and grow in their faith.

There are many travailing moments in this ministry, whether it is the travail over making the decision to have the baby or abort; to parent or make an adoption plan; to marry or single parent; to choose abstinence or continue with sexual activity; to choose Christ or reject Him; to obey the Word or not. Through it all I know that GOD’s WORD WILL NOT RETURN VOID and that is where I can rest. God continues to give us evidence of this truth, through little “splashes of joy.” This week one of our volunteers was able to pray with a woman to receive the Lord; a client worked through trusting God during a time of grieving; and we even saw glimmers of change in the life of another woman.