Near the end of our older son’s kindergarten year, he was given a simple battery of tests to ensure that he’d mastered the basic knowledge and skills he’d been taught over the previous months. He sailed through all of the questions with one exception.

Mrs. Moore asked our son to name the four seasons. Whereas he had quickly rattled off the answers to the other questions, he suddenly paused and was very thoughtful before slowly responding, “Football…basketball…baseball…and hockey.” Guess what was on our TV most of the time. By the grace of God and a teacher with a great sense of humor, our boy made it to first grade.

Our dear little church is currently in a different sort of season, and it has nothing to do with weather or sports. At our church, it’s pregnancy season! It seems that just as soon as one mama delivers, another one (or two) announces that she’s expecting! We’re delighted to have our church nursery bursting at the seams as we welcome one tiny class member after another.

There are few things that I find more beautiful in this world than an expectant mom. Following her months of pregnancy – seeing her abdomen gradually grow and swell with the promise of a child soon to arrive – is such a precious, amazing process. Little mama is more vigilant over her health, knowing that everything she does affects not only herself, but her baby. And then the wait is over. Birth pains begin. Labor takes its course, and God brings forth another precious little one made in His image. The promise of a child – fulfilled.

Friends, God uses so many images from ordinary life that direct us to consider the extraordinary plan He has for this world – and pregnancy is one of them. His Word is ripe with promises, pregnant with hope for a better day. The longing of His creation and His Church to come to fullness of life grows stronger as history marches on. We see the suffering and brokenness of this present age, and our hearts labor in prayer and service until the Day of relief and redemption – the very things our Father has promised.

A child arrives “in the fullness of time.” The Lord, too, will return “in the fullness of time” - to fulfill every small and large promise found in His Word. May His church be found vigilant and healthy, waiting expectantly for new life in the new heavens and the new earth to finally begin. May we anticipate with joy the incredible, eternal “season” of praise to our great God! We can have hope because every day brings us one day closer.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’” – Revelation 21:1-4