Nine months of waiting and then labor. It’s perhaps the greatest pain a woman will endure. What keeps her going? She knows labor produces something wonderful at the end: a new life, a baby. “She forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world” (v. 21).

Jesus used this picture to explain the suffering His disciples had to endure. He would die, and they would grieve. He gave them the hope that their grief would end. But He also told them something even better: the suffering itself would produce great joy. You see, Jesus’ suffering wasn’t just something He endured. Rather, He willingly entered into it for us.

As Christians “we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:17). “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Don’t lose heart! Endure the labor pains of life knowing that because you are in Christ, your suffering is productive and you, too, will one day see Jesus again.