by Rich DuBose
I’ve never given birth, but I coached Linda through two eventful birthings that resulted in the arrival of our children, Benjamin and Erika. Both experiences were absolutely unforgettable! The trauma and pain turned to joy with their arrivals.
Right now the earth is pregnant and dilated. Everything around us indicates that something of great consequence is about to occur! But to get to the other side we have to go through pain and trauma.
Because the contractions are getting stronger and closer, we know it can’t be much longer!
Think about where we’ve recently been and currently are —9/11, a worldwide pandemic, a brutal election that has seriously divided our nation, climate change, wars and rumors of wars, increasing natural disasters, the orchestrated move by many Evangelical Christians to destroy democracy in the U.S. and replace it with a theocracy. These are contractions, birth pains, and warnings that life as we know it is about to change.
In recent years the incidents of wildfires has increased to the point that it has now become a year round mainstay for the western United States. Scientists tell us we can expect it to worsen, thanks to our warming planet.
The political stage in America has become so toxic people with opposing views cannot communicate with each other. The only signals that get through are hate and vitriol.
Jesus said, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come” (Matthew 24:4-8 (NLT). I encourage you to Matthew 24 in its entirety. Some of what is outlined has already happened, but there is certainly more to come.
If you’re pregnant and about to give birth, what do you do? You prepare for it, psychologically, emotionally and physically. You may attend a class that teaches natural birthing techniques to help you minimize the pain. But it’s all for a worthy cause. Right? Even though we live in a broken world that is at times highly toxic, love still moves us to procreate and produce offspring. It is the path of love!
The thing that complicates the birthing process we are going through is the presence of evil. There are evil, nefarious forces who want to prevent hope and goodness from ever seeing the light of day!
Hard Times
“In the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!” (2 Timothy 3:1-5, NLT).
So, how do we get through this?
The only ones who will make it to the other side are those who have learned to love—even their enemies. Love is the only thing that will endure.
“God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you. Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together” (Colossians 3:12-14, Contemporary English Version).
Becoming a willing recipient of God’s love enables us to love in extraordinary ways.
Rich DuBose writes from Northern California | Photo by Ramy Photographer, with Pexels
On the web at: richdubose.com. All Rights Reserved © 2026. Join me on Blue Sky @spiritrenew.bsky.social.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.