Rejoice Barren One

The real upside down

Galatians 4:27: “Remember what Isaiah wrote: “Rejoice, barren woman who bears no children, shout and cry out, woman who has no birth pangs, Because the children of the barren woman now surpass the children of the chosen woman.” 

These passages invite us to rethink the situations in our lives that we complain about or are concerned about. We can invite the Holy Spirit to give us fresh perspectives about our trials, temptations, sufferings, set backs, limitations, boundaries, challenges, road blocks, or any other situation or dynamic that we perceive is preventing us from what we think we need or want. God’s kingdom flips problems into possibilities, messes into miracles, pain into purpose. What you’d never access or attain through the easy path, becomes realized new realities through the abundant grace that God brings to the hopeless, helpless, disdained, abandoned and barren.

‭‭Hannah’s prophetic prayer in 1 Samuel‬ ‭2‬:‭4‬-‭8‬ ‭ “The bow of the mighty is now broken, and those who stumbled are now strong. Those who were well fed are now starving, and those who were starving are now full. The childless woman now has seven children, and the woman with many children wastes away. The Lord gives both death and life; he brings some down to the grave but raises others up. The Lord makes some poor and others rich; he brings some down and lifts others up. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump. He sets them among princes, placing them in seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord’s, and he has set the world in order.”

Jesus demonstrated this upside down, right-side up kingdom through his ministry life and teaching:

The Beatitudes (supreme blessedness): ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭12‬

“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”

Pray that the Holy Spirit would give you fresh understanding, renewed faith and a settled heart that your circumstances do not determine God’s love and favor but provide the place where He chooses to reveal His goodness and grace to you.