Birth Pains - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Bible in a Year : Joshua 16-18, Luke 2:1-24

There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginnings of birth pains.
Matthew 24:7-8

Today's Scripture & Insight : Matthew 24:1-8

The summer’s day dawned bright and sunny upon the old Victorian chapel that I and fellow graduates were using as our base for street evangelism with Mission England 1984. Billy Graham was drawing in crowds just down the road at Liverpool FC’s Anfield stadium and we were thrilled to be part of what God was doing.

But suddenly we felt a great shaking. The breakfast cutlery starting vibrating on the table, crockery rattled violently and we heard a tremendous roar. Had a lorry hit the building? We later found out that we experienced Britain’s strongest onshore earthquake of the twentieth century, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale.

Earthquakes feature more than once in the New Testament, demonstrating God’s awesome power. For instance, at the resurrection the very rocks split and graves open (Matthew 27:51). God uses an earthquake to free Paul and Silas from a Philippian jail as they praise God even in their suffering (Acts 17:26). And in his discourse on the end times, Jesus states, “There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:6–8).

I wonder if there was any symbolism in the earthquake that July day, pointing people to the power of the God that Billy Graham preached about so eloquently. We don’t know, but we do believe that one day, suddenly, Jesus will return in majesty. Let’s wait expectantly for that glorious moment!

By: Adrian Smith

Reflect & Pray
How have you seen God work in powerful ways in your own life? How can you be ready for His return?

Creator God, thank You for Your tremendous power and for the promised glorious return of Jesus, and that You welcome me to live with You forever.