Cheryl’s Labor of Love
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.”
John 16:21 NIV
Eve, the mother of all children, gave testimony of God’s faithfulness in her first childbirth experience. She admitted going through the process with the help of the Lord. God was with her and did not abandon her in her labor. (Genesis 4:1)
“With the help of the Lord I have brought forth a man.” Genesis 4:1
When the Israelites were multiplying rapidly in the land of Egypt, pharaoh became nervous. So to reduce their number, he called on the midwives to destroy all males at birth. But because the Hebrew midwives feared God rather than pharaoh, they refused. When pharaoh asked for an explanation as to why they allowed the male babies to live, they said the Hebrew women were different from the Egyptian women and gave birth before they arrived.
“The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” the midwives replied. “They are more vigorous and have their babies so quickly that we cannot get there in time.”
Exodus 1:19
The Egyptians were a sophisticated race of people, creating faster transportation, elaborate structures and medicines and ointments. In contrast, the Hebrew women worked hard and lived a simple life having faith in God. The Egyptians created many gods, while the Hebrew women believed in only One; The God of their fathers; Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
“But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” 1Timothy 2:15
So it was, when God delivered the Israelites from the land of Egypt, He opened the Red Sea and brought them safely across, while the Egyptians in hot pursuit, were destroyed within their own chariots. The challenge of the Red Sea revealed God’s awesome power and faithfulness. (Psalm 20:7)
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” Psalm 20:7
In Paul’s message to Timothy, he affirms God’s faithfulness to women in childbirth. Women who trust in God during the childbirth process are preserved through faith. The experience is meant to strengthen faith, not weaken it, by placing absolute trust in the Lord. She comes out confident in her maternal role and has wisdom for her newborn. The stumbling blocks to a safe outcome (physically, emotionally and spiritually) are impropriety, sexual immorality, lack of self- restraint and faith in the One who created childbirth. These sins present problems to an otherwise, natural, optimal pregnancy and birth. Nevertheless, God is merciful, and faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness, when we repent, working all things for our good.
(1 John 1:9,Romans 8:28)
“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 NLT
As a young mother, I was abandoned when I chose to labor and birth naturally, trusting in God. But the Lord was with me, and as I called out to Him, He was faithful to deliver, “immediately” before the physician arrived . (Doula Faith)
And as it was, I brought forth my son, Michael, with the help of the Lord!
And thus God’s faithfulness continues as I continue to place my Trust in His love, mercy and grace. (Isaiah 64:4, 40:30-31)
When a woman seeks God first and His righteousness through obedience and faith in Jesus Christ, everything works for her benefit. And even in the most adverse circumstance, the Lord brings about His awesome plan for her life.
For the giver of life is faithful to do it.
(2 Timothy 2:13, Matthew 6: 33, Romans 8:28, Jeremiah 29:11, John 3:16, John 3:3).
“Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God. “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” John 3: 3-8 NLT
The Mother and Child Reunion is Only a Heartbeat Away
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