Before She Travailed, She Brought Forth

Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

Isaiah 66:7-9, King James Version

In the middle of the night, on January 23, 2023, I woke up and heard the Holy Spirit begin to speak about Isaiah 66, and heard “Zion is giving birth.” Mount Zion is the highest point at which Jerusalem (Jerusalem is the “city of peace.”) was built and I began to see in the spirit the contractions of the birth coming. The contractions were not painful or full of intense labor, but there was an overwhelming amount of peace veiled by white sheets billowing back and forth.

I began to ask the Holy Spirit for insight and continued to pray on Isaiah 66:7-9. 

SWIFT DELIVERIES

“Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.”

Isaiah 66:7a

The Spirit of the Lord is hovering over the people and bringing forth swift deliveries. What should be painful and laborious is being reversed or bypassed because of the oil on it. The oil on your life is making the birthing process easier and quicker than you can image. It will be these unheard of moments of great triumphs and successes that answers to breakthroughs will happen. 

The purpose of the swift delivery is to not only bring you into the breakthrough, but it is also meant to confound the enemy. His tactics and plots might seem like they are waiting for you at the next “milestone victory.” But, no more. The swift delivery will bring about fruitfulness and glory in your life like never before. The oil you have been carrying has been for this season. Don’t let your oil run low like the five virgins. Stay ready and alert so as not to miss your moment of great birth.

THE TRAVAILING ONES

For so long, many have felt all they can do is weep, cry out and travail for the breakthrough. The weeping and travailing is ending, but none of it will be wasted. Not one tear has been lost. 

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

Psalm 56:8, New Living Translation

The tears are watering the ground which seeds you have sown in the past are planted. What seemed lost and out of reach is bursting forth in a new way. One minute you will be sorrowful, but the next you will be walking with abundant joy. Everything will change in a minute because the cries of the past have been heard and recorded. Repayment for the tears is your portion.

THE RESTORATION OF TEARS

Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child. “Listen to this message from the LORD, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant coastlands: The LORD, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock. For the LORD has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them. They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the LORD ’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.

Jeremiah 31:9-13, New Living Translation

Many have stopped crying because of the hopelessness you have seen all around you for so long. You’ve stopped crying because you feel your tears are not important any more. You have put your tears on the back burner because they are rooted in sorrow and sadness. But this is the season your tears are being restored. The cycle of no tears and hopeless sorrow is ending. Your tears are not being restored back into sorrow, but back into joy. TEARS OF JOY are coming in this season of your life because of the past travailing you have walked through. 

God is restoring His children back like watered gardens who long for His presence. God removed Adam and Eve at the beginning because of their sin in the garden. But it has been God’s desire to dwell close and intimate with His children once more. Intimacy with Him is the well-spring of the garden bursting forth inside of you. Don’t let the tears of the past keep you from holding onto new tears of joy He is wanting to let you experience. He is breaking off the shame that tears are only for the weak, but they are for the strong. And the new well-spring of tears He is giving His people will be holy reminders of His goodness and mercy that have carried you all the days of your life. (Psalm 23:6)

Many have felt that because they have stopped crying, they have missed what God is doing. There are numb hearts trying to be sensitive to His words and promises, but it has felt useless because no change has taken place. In your numbness you have grown cold and shame has attached itself to your expectancy that God will do what He promised.

Fear and shame are breaking over you. Numbness is breaking over you. And in Jesus’ name your heart will beat again with expectancy and joy like never before. Like an expectant mother, you will drop shame and fear. You will not miscarry or mishandle what He is going to birth through you. I see in my spirit hearts coming back to life and beating with purity. Cleaned hearts are being revived and restored. You will function at a new capacity and with new hope in this next season. Declare over your life that the former numbness and withdrawal of your spirit is broken, and in this new season of your life you will be free of past pain.

LABOR AND DELIVERY

Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?

(Isaiah 66:9b)

Many have asked themselves where God is in this season. Stop wondering and look up. He is in the labor room with you ready for your birthing moment. 

He is asking you – “Do you think I would ever bring you to this point in your life and then not deliver on My word?” 

No. 

You will see the goodness of the Lord explode over your life. No plot or tactic of the enemy will abort the plans He has for you. Your promise is coming forth and in His name you will see His glory.

Prepare yourself like a mom ready for her child to be born. Have everything needed and ready – your time to birth is swifter than you imagine.

“Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son. Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

Isaiah 66:7-9, New International Version