From Trials to Triumph

​Every mother dreams of the moment that they can snuggle and bond with their baby after the height of labor. After twelve hours of labor and a third degree tear, I was more than ready. I will never forget the anticipation as I sat in my wheelchair, holding my bundle of joy, waiting to be transferred to a normal room.

​It was only a few short minutes later that my doctor came in to tell me that wasn’t happening. In the next few moments, she explained that my blood pressure had risen to an extremely high level and if they didn’t treat it immediately, I could end up having a seizure. What I later learned is that I had postpartum preeclampsia. Postpartum preeclampsia is a serious condition that if not treated could cause a stroke, brain damage, and death. Moments later, I was back in the hospital bed being poked and prodded with IV’s and a plethora of other devices. 

​I was devastated. How could such a beautiful moment take such a drastic turn? Momentarily, I gave in to what felt like such a traumatic experience but shortly afterwards, I was reminded of God’s word. I will never forget the verses I meditated on leading up to childbirth such as James 1:2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” When the Holy Spirit brought this to my remembrance, I felt joy in knowing that even in the trials I was facing, I would persevere because God’s word promises our trial will produce something beautiful in us. The more I held on to God’s word, not only was I healing physically but also spiritually.
 
Did you know that if you allow God’s word to take root inside of you, you too can experience joy in the midst of tough circumstances?
 
We read in Psalm 119, “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight” (Ps. 119:143). In this passage, we see the fruit of joy and perseverance from the psalmist as they express the love they have for God’s word in inspite of tough times. Interestingly enough, Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. And in this chapter, we see just how much the psalmist has allowed God’s word to take root on the inside of him or her. More importantly, the psalmist doesn’t ignore the troubles they are experiencing but in spite of them finds joy in God’s commands.
 
In the Bible, we see several examples of the importance of the word of God. We also find that if we cling to his commands, it can produce good fruit in our lives as it did for the psalmist. For example in Luke 8, Jesus tells the parable of the sower to a large crowd. As the seed was scattered, it was only the seed that fell on good soil that produced a crop. He further explains the parable to the disciples by revealing this seed represents God’s word. Luke 8:15 states, “‘but the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop”.
 
In times of trouble, find joy in the word of God and hold tight to his commands, knowing He will produce, in your life, the fruit of perseverance. I will be the first to admit I haven’t always done this. It is very tempting to get distracted by the weight of life. So much so, that we forget all God has commanded us in his word. However, as believers we too must find delight in his commands in spite of hard circumstances. Joy comes from the assurance of God’s presence even in the midst of hard circumstances.
 
I encourage you to take inventory of your life. As you take inventory, think about a tough moment you are currently experiencing. We all experience them. Now, I challenge you to take it to God’s word. What does His word say about it? Allow that Word to transform how you see your circumstance. As you spend this time with him, you will find a joy that will resonate through any trial.
 

Memory Verse: “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight.” 
Psalm 119:143

About the Author

Hi there! My name is Jannetta Cox. I am a wife and a first time mom! My husband Chris and I have been married for 5 years and my daughter is a 1 year old who lights up our life in the best way. Currently, I am a full time working mom as a Promotion Research Specialist at the Coca-Cola Company. I love family time, fun outings with friends, and weekend getaways. Lastly (but really first), I love God with all my heart and he is the center of my family. I am thankful for the new life he has given me in him. My prayer is to be a woman who can humbly lead others to Christ however he sees fit! Connect with me at jsamobucox.wordpress.com.