According to the UN, there are approximately 385,000 babies born every day into this world. If you do some math that’s about 140 million babies born every year, or more simply about 267 every minute. This means that every minute there are potentially 267 women cursing Eve and wondering why God caused Eve and all women to experience pain in childbirth?

I must admit as a man, I have experienced the joy of childbirth because I have two children, but I cannot say I have experienced the pain of childbirth, because I didn’t give birth to them. For this reason, neither I nor any other male for that matter can write this from a place of empathy, because I have not felt what any woman has experienced in childbirth. I will simply do my best to answer this question why did God cause Eve and all women to experience pain in childbirth?

Why Did God Cause Eve, and All Women, to Experience Pain in Childbirth?

“To the woman he said,

‘I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children…’” (Genesis 3:16a).

Let me begin with an answer to this question that you may not find all that satisfying. This verse in Genesis does not give us a complete answer as to why God increased pain in childbirth. Here is what we do know: The increase in pain was a response for sin. However, we must look closer at these words in Genesis 3, to gain better understanding.

When you look at this word in the original Hebrew language, some may argue the connotation is not of childbirth going from no pain to severe pain. The language suggests the experience of childbirth going from some pain to increased pain. While God caused Eve and all women to experience pain at childbirth because of Eve’s sin, it could also suggest there was always some level of sensation attached to the birthing process. However, because of Eve’s sin, the pain was intensified.

Whether that provides more comfort or provides a better answer I am not sure.

A Different Look at the Pain in Childbirth

Let’s consider another angle to look at this question of why did God cause Eve and all women to experience pain in childbirth? The website Answers in Genesis gives an interesting perspective on this verse. Here is what they say:

“There is physical pain in the actual birthing process (most mothers can attest to this) and mental anguish (e.g., sorrows) associated with having children in a sin-cursed world.

Consider that Eve not only went through the pain of childbearing during delivery, but she also had to endure the loss of Abel, her own son, slain by his own brother. Consider also Mary, who saw her son Jesus die on the cross. So, there are two prongs to this, and, of course, seeing one of your children die is an extreme example. But it would be rare, if not impossible task, to find a mother who has not seen her children suffer in some manner, from starvation to sickness, cuts, scrapes, and so on.”

What Answers In Genesis is pointing out is the emotional suffering attached to giving birth. I believe this is a valid point highlighting that the pain in childbirth does not just reflect on the process of birthing your child, but can be included in the process of raising your child.

I will speak as a parent here and from personal experience. One of the most painful experiences as a parent is seeing your child suffer and not being able to do anything to stop it. I cannot say for certain this is what this verse means or what God meant when he said this, but I think it is worth considering.

The Pain Is Not a Curse

One thing that is important to note is that while God cursed the serpent and he cursed the ground that Adam would have to toil, he did not curse Eve. This suggests while God caused Eve to experience pain in childbirth, he was not pronouncing a curse on Eve.

There is no curse in giving birth to children. While the pain in childbirth is a reminder of the sinful decision made by Adam and Eve, it is not a curse (even though some women may want to curse in the middle of giving birth). We see from the Scriptures that even through the pain in childbirth, it is soon replaced by great joy when that child enters the world.

Could the Pain Remind Us of Our Redemption?

In researching for this article, I did not see this thought anywhere, so I want to pose the question. Is it possible the pain in childbirth could in some ways be a reminder of our redemption? It is interesting to note that the salvation experience is equated to the birthing process. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 that no one could see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. While the outcome of being born again produces great joy, like natural childbirth does, the process to being born again caused Jesus great pain. Again, like natural childbirth does for the woman. Consider this verse in Hebrews for a moment:

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Jesus carried in his body the pain of sin to the cross. He did this so he could provide a way for you and me to be born again. As he was enduring the pain of the cross, he was at the same time thinking about the joy of the result. While a mother experiences pain in the birthing process, the joy of the newborn overshadows the pain. I know this is not an exact equivalent, neither am I trying to make one. However, is it possible that instead of thinking of the experience of childbirth in terms of judgment, that we look at that experience as a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made to give us life?

The pain a woman carries in her body producing the ultimate joy of bringing life into the world is a small parallel to the pain Jesus carried in his body to bring a new life into the kingdom. Just wondering if that is good food for thought.

Final Thoughts 

As you can see this is a question that has one simple answer – the increased pain is a judgment of sin, but beyond that there are many complex ones. Ultimately the answer to this question, beyond it being the result of sin, falls into the category of things we just won’t know for certain on this side of eternity. We can know and see what God did, but it does not seem we have the ability in this instance to know all the reasons why.

Finally, for every mother who has endured the pain of childbirth to bring life into the world, I know it was not easy. All I can say is thank you. I will include my wife, who is mother to our two kids, and my mother in this thank you. The pain was great but if you are like most mothers, when you see your children you would say it was worth it all.

Caring for the sick means not only healing the wounds of the body but also those that afflict the soul, Pope Francis said.

“Care cannot be divided because the human being cannot be divided. We could — paradoxically — save the body and lose humanity,” the pope said in a video message on the eve of the 30th World Day of the Sick, which is celebrated Feb. 11 each year.

“The saints who cared for the sick always followed the Master’s teaching: heal the wounds of body and soul; pray and act for physical and spiritual healing together,” he said.

The pope’s message, which was released by the Vatican Feb. 10, was sent to participants of a webinar hosted by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

In his message, the pope said that the current pandemic “is teaching us to view illness as a global and not a merely individual phenomenon” and should motivate reflection on other types of “pathologies” that threaten humanity, including individualism and indifference.

These and other forms of selfishness, he said, generate inequalities, especially in the field of health care “where some enjoy so-called ‘excellence'” while many others “struggle to access basic health care.”

“To cure this ‘social’ virus, the antidote is the culture of fraternity, based on the awareness that we are all equal as human persons, all equal as children of one God,” he said. “On this basis, it will be possible to have effective treatments for everyone. But if we are not convinced that we are all equal, this will not work.”

Cardinal Peter Turkson, former prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, echoed Pope Francis’ sentiments during his homily Feb. 11 at a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica with people who are sick and with their caregivers.

Reflecting on the divine consolation that God gives to his children, Cardinal Turkson said Christians are also called to pass on that consolation to those who suffer in body and soul.

“Consolation means to encourage, to exhort, to comfort or to give joy to a person or community that finds themselves in a situation of sadness, anguish and desolation,” he said.

Those who dedicate their lives to consoling others, the cardinal said, draw inspiration from God who throughout history “has been close to a wounded humanity in order to comfort, strengthen and heal it.”

The commemoration of the World Day of the Sick, he added, is a “celebration of God’s works of mercy,” especially through those who work tirelessly in the health care field.

“May your hands, which touch the suffering flesh of Christ, be a sign of the merciful hands of the Father,” Cardinal Turkson said before he and the concelebrating bishops administered the sacramental anointing of the sick to many people in the congregation.

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Original Article: https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/francis-chronicles/sick-must-be-cared-body-and-soul-pope-says

Christian artist TobyMac opened up about the depth of his grief following the death of his son, Truett Foster McKeehan, and revealed that he’d never thought extensively about eternity before the young man’s death in 2019.

“To me, grief comes in waves. Some days it hits you really hard. I can’t say it’s ever stayed off of me but I can’t say that it hasn’t beat me up some days. Let’s put it like that,” the Grammy Award-winning artist said in a recent video clip released by Joy FM.

The artist said that it wasn’t until the untimely death of his 21-year-old son that he fully realized what it meant to grieve. The entertainer’s eldest son died of an accidental overdose at his home on Oct. 23, 2019. 

“I just felt like everything was beautiful and perfect until the last few years. Then, when we lost Truett, everything changed, and I met grief in the fiercest way,” he reflected.

The “I Just Need You” singer said a chance encounter with a stranger gave him the tools he needed to cope with his loss.

“I met a guy in Austin, Texas, and he lost his son. It was before I lost Truett,” TobyMac revealed. “I actually was playing Austin, and he was a guy I’d never met that said I could come play his golf course with him.”

“When I went and played with him, he told me he lost his son, and he told me all about it, a car accident,” he added. “It was really interesting. He told me a few things that were like preparing me kind of.”

The man instructed TobyMac to hold on to something God promised in His Word while going through his grief. 

“God didn’t promise us we wouldn’t face loss. He goes, ‘God promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us. That’s what He promised us,’” the musician shared. “God doesn’t always take away the cold. He promises that He’ll be right there in it with us. That’s what I held on to and I found Him there, or He found me there.” 

The former DC Talk member said he’s tried to learn how to laugh again despite the tragedy. 

“I started to learn to laugh even in the first week a little bit, but not laugh as deeply. I don’t know if I’ll ever laugh as deeply. I don’t know if we’ll ever smile as big, but I can smile and I can laugh,” TobyMac added. 

Though he’s talked about eternity throughout his music career, which spans almost four decades, the artist said his perception of eternity was surface-level before the death of his son.

“I spoke about eternity before, but I never really thought about it deeply because I didn’t need to,” he commented. “I always trusted God. I always walked with God. It’s not a question of that, but it was like to deeply think about it.”

TobyMac revealed that now, he thinks about eternity deeply because he imagines his son there. He became emotional before sharing the picture in his mind that he has of Truett in eternity.

“‘Dad, if you could only see what I see right now. And it’s not necessarily what Heaven looks like. It’s how this thing all works, how leaving this earth early isn’t necessarily a rip-off,’” he illustrated. “‘Like, ‘You don’t understand yet, dad. You don’t get it at all.’ That’s what I see.” 

The father of four said he and his family have done many things to process their grief, including counseling. He applauded the Church for standing by him in his time of need.

“The most important thing … to have loved ones surround you in your darkest moment and just love you, be with you. Even the people that are a little more distant, the people that have listened to my music, the way I was prayed for … we felt surrounded by love through the deepest, darkest, hardest thing we’ve ever experienced. And to me that’s, that’s what the body of Christ should look like.”

“So through what I’ve experienced in the grief, I’ve experienced what I’ve walked through — the raging storm, the deepest valley. I just feel like I didn’t know God stayed close in those times, but I’ve learned that He does. I really have,” TobyMac concluded.

This month, the singer released a song with Sheryl Crow, which speaks to hoping for the “Promised Land” amid the pain.

“I think if we’re honest, every one of us has wondered at one time or another, ‘Where’s my promised land? Where’s the blessing for me and my family that I thought would come my way on this earth if I chose to follow the King of Kings,’” TobyMac said in a video about the vision behind the song.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior primarily based on a personal experience of hearing Him call my name. I was in desperate need of a direct relationship with God, and I asked Him to reveal himself to me. Jesus answered my call. It was that clear and convincing.

However, in these tumultuous times when our faith is under attack, every believer should be able to objectively articulate why salvation comes only through faith in Christ and why the Bible is God’s infallible, living Word. Many religions claim to be true, but only one answer can be right.

Therefore if we define and communicate why the Bible is authentic, our faith is defensible beyond the experiential. We can build our confidence in the Bible and provide objective evidence to draw people to Him.

So how can we independently defend that the Bible is the Word of God?  The apostles Luke and Peter both claim they wrote as eyewitnesses to Jesus’ life and miracles, and what they wrote was based on inspiration by God through the Holy Spirit. 

Just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word delivered them to us,it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed. Luke 1:2-4

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.  2 Peter 1:16

Though they claimed the authenticity of their narrations, how can it be verified?  Impact Video Ministries did an excellent job outlining how to evaluate the assertions of the Apostles and the integrity of the Bible. First is the Honesty Test. 

This hypothesis centers around the principle that when a historical account includes disparaging details about the author, it is significant because it indicates that they are more concerned about telling the truth than telling an amazing story about themselves. Otherwise, they would have changed the facts to make themselves look better if they were making up a lie. 

In Peter’s gospel, he said Jesus called him Satan and was upset that the disciples fell asleep in Gethsemane, despite repeated requests to stay awake in prayer. Both Luke and Peter explain how all the disciples abandoned Jesus when he was arrested. They all denied knowing Jesus and even hid after he died. Furthermore, all the authors of the Gospel except John died gruesome deaths.

Why would they be willing to die for a lie? All they would have to do was renounce their faith, but they didn’t. They were so committed to relaying the truth; they were willing to die for it. 

Second is the historical accuracy of the Bible. One way to test that is the time gap — when was the first copy written after the actual events? Handwritten documents of historical or spiritual significance are referred to as manuscripts before they are made into copies and reproduced.

The manuscripts about Caesar were written 1,000 years after his life, and for Plato, it is about 1200 years. The first biography of Alexander the Great is still 400 years after he lived, but no one doubts his existence. The time gap of the New Testament is only 50 years after the life of Jesus. Jesus’ time gap is far less than all of these figures and far less than any other major event in ancient history.

When you compare how many original manuscripts there are about Jesus’ life, the others do not come close. Everything about Caesar was contained in only ten manuscripts, Plato had seven, but the New Testament has over 24,633 original manuscripts! The closest is the Iliad by Homer, which has only 643. Yet, no one contests the existence of those historical figures even though the record for Christ far exceeds them.

Another test of the historical accuracy of the Bible is the prophetic scripture about the nation of Israel and its rebirth, as well as the coming of Jesus Christ. It covers the entire span of humanity and tells us of events in the future with perfect accuracy. Critics were so shocked by its precision that they would claim parts of the Old Testament had to have been written after the fact.

The criticism of Christianity I hear most often from Muslims is that the Bible was corrupted, though no one can ever provide the factual evidence to back up this assertion. It was the discovery of The Dead Sea Scrolls, which finally put this notion to rest. Dated from around 200 B.C. to A.D. 68, the scrolls are more than 1,000 years older than any manuscripts of the Hebrew Old Testament that we had before their discovery.

Because of their age and close similarity with the text used in the Bible from the 10th century, we have “an objective basis for determining that the biblical text used in our modern copies of the Old Testament is accurate.” 

Finally, there is the Corroboration Test. What other historical materials confirm or deny the facts in the Bible? Nine non-Christian sources mention Jesus within 100 years of his death, and 33 additional sources are written by Christians, creating 42 records in total. Ceaser has only 10. Jesus’s life, his crucifixion, his reappearance, and ascension were corroborated four times as much, yet people still deny that he died and rose again. 

The Bible passes all three tests by dramatic proportions. Even the skeptic should take pause and consider that the Bible is the living Word of God. So this Christmas season, share the Good news of eternal life and forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ, not just because you feel it is right but because there is undeniable, irrefutable evidence that God sent His only Son to save us.

Religion, by its definition, is man’s attempt to reach or find God.  But God cried out to us to meet him face to face, to be in a relationship with Him that goes way beyond a set of rules of religion. The Bible is how God communicates to each and every one of us that we are loved.  Through His Word, He sends this message of love to all of humanity and for all time. 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Merry Christmas.

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Hedieh Mirahmadi was a devout Muslim for two decades working in the field of national security before she experienced the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and has a new passion for sharing the Gospel.  She dedicates herself full-time to Resurrect Ministry, an online resource that harnesses the power of the Internet to make salvation through Christ available to people of all nations, and her daily podcast LivingFearlessDevotional.com.