Things I've learned from labor

My first labor was over 50 hours, my second was 29 hours. My husband and I thought surely the second would be much shorter. We had prepared more, and were much more positive and proactive with this labor than the first. I don't really think there was much of a physical reason that it took so long, but I am certain of a spiritual one.
We started out labor excited and looking forward to the journey and seeing our precious baby at the end. I embraced the contractions and what my body, and God was doing to bring this baby out. Then it wore on longer than we thought. We struggled with why, but stayed positive. Then it wore on WAY longer than we thought. We got tired. We really struggled with why. Does God hate us? Is he punishing us for something we did wrong? Is he turning his face away from us? He encouraged us and strengthened us to push through. Only a short while from when we felt ready to give up, our son was born. What a wonderful experience it was! What an amazing lesson. I am deeply thankful for my long labors and the character building it has given me. It has taught me that right before the end of a trial you will feel like it will never end; and God doesn't put us through trials to torture us, but to teach us and grow us. We can't see that until the trial is over though, usually. Often when we ask God why he is allowing something in our lives that is painful, we think he doesn't answer; but if we would just listen we would hear, "I'm with you. This is necessary. Just hang on!"
I know that the trial we are going through right now WILL end.... just not yet. I am confident to trust that God will bring us through because he has brought us through before:)

"Cling tightly to your faith in Christ...." 1 Timothy 1:19a