My grandson turned 10 years old last week, but I still remember the night that he was born.

The doctor spoke calmly to my oldest daughter, “I know you wanted to do the water birth, but I think there’s a little too much stress on the baby. We need to go ahead and get him out of there. Are you o.k. with that?” My daughter nodded her consent, but I suspect that her quick agreement came more from the pain of labor than any resignation concerning water birth.

As soon as she received my daughter’s permission, the doctor’s calm manner was immediately replaced with medical emergency protocol. She whipped a cell phone out of her pocket and spoke rapidly into it. “I need you in here now!” The nurse she spoke to was coming down the hall at a dead run even as the doctor closed her phone.  When they whisked her off to surgery, my other daughter, my son-in-law and I stood there momentarily stunned into silence.

The next few minutes were difficult ones for us. We called family members and called on our faith. Our prayers were answers and we saw a healthy baby boy minutes later.

The whole situation reminds me the scripture from John 16:21.   A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. John 16:21 (NKJV).  At least I thought about that long after everything was over.  Initially,  I was disappointed that my daughter had to experience an emergency C-section and my son-in-law experienced one of the most joyous events of his life in the midst of great danger to the most important person in his life. However, that precious bundle of joy made it all worthwhile. What a blessing it is that even when circumstances overwhelm us, God still blesses us with small miracles.

My prayer for you today is that even in difficult situations you will always remember to thank God for being a loving God and for always doing what’s best for us, even when we don’t understand. When things don’t go as expected, turn to him and remember the promise from Romans 8:28.  He knows how to make all things work together for good even when they feel bad.

The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, read John 16 and Romans 8.  Meditate on those things and remember that while trials and tribulations will undoubtedly come, you do not have to face them alone as long as you know The Overcomer. Don’t make the mistake of allowing the cares of life to keep you from living.

Be Blessed,

Shelia