I'm thirty-six years old and pregnant for the 6th time. My body has greatly changed since I was expecting my first at 30 years old. But, I think my perspective has changed the most.
Now, let me first say I understand that MANY women dread pregnancy and actually have very unpleasant experiences. Through God's kindness, I am NOT one of those ladies. That said, I do believe pregnancy can easily turn from being a blessing to a burden for lots of ladies, simply because we believe lies from the world. And I've been quite guilty of believing and even encouraging those lies.
Some of the lies that greatly affected my past pregnancies mainly revolved around what our trustworthy medical field would purport about it. But others were already in my mind, like I was supposed to have weird cravings and had to be extra careful about any kind of physical activity, regardless of stage in pregnacy and previous level of physical activity. What I believe the actual truth to be is God has made SOME women to have pregnancies that DO require extra levels of precaution and rest and medical intervention BUT the vast majority of pregnancies don't need anywhere near the amount of medical intervention.
My first pregnancy was exciting. My first ultrasound showed something that the doctor thought was twins. It turned out to be fibroids. The result, I had multiple ultrasounds, I found myself wanting as many as they would allow, and I battled fear of having those pesky things get in the way of me having a vaginal birth. I was told that I would want them removed post-delivery.
Well, I've had those common fibroids with each pregnancy and each time they have not interfered with any delivery, praise God. And, though the only option from the medical field's perspective was eventually have them removed as they are common and most women will have them at some point, with this sixth pregnancy I've learned that a good midwife can simply feel them, that there is no need to have ultrasounds to see them as they move and change, and they can, in fact, shrink (or at least have their growth stunted)!
The Lord spoke of women having babies way back in the
3rd chapter of the first book of the Bible. Pregnancy, labor, and birth are NOT new or surprising or things to dread. But we can act like they are, can't we? These are lies that need to be fought. God has a purpose even in a woman being pregnant, laboring, and giving birth. And He has spoken quite clearly that women will bear children in PAIN. Yet, in reading Hebrews 12 this morning, I was reminded that even the pain of childbirth is good as it will yield fruit which He has created.
In my mind, one of the best fruits of being pregnant, laboring, and then giving birth is discipline.
"It is for discipline that you have to endure." And let's be real,
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." But we all need to be trained by it. And
So, why am I writing all this? I am not hoping to offend. I am hoping to encourage other pregnant women out there to not just accept what might have been fed to you from the world about this good gift from God. I love how my hubby puts it - constantly audit your life - and consider the blessings that come from the "difficulties" of pregnancy.
In the meantime, if you find yourself struggling with the perceived burden of pregnancy, please consider joining me in joyfully enduring this most precious, unique season. God is sovereign and He is good. And He is working out His will, in and through us, with these light, momentary afflictions. Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself so that you do not grow weary or fainthearted - by looking to the cross where Jesus made a way for us to be redeemed, once and for all!
