This post is basically a continuation of the previous pregnancy post, "Tips for a Healthy Pregnancy", except that I will focus on the spiritual side of health.
Some things you just can't find a solution for in the natural. While we should always approach everything in faith, that doesn't always happen. I'm reminded of the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and received healing in Luke 8:43-48 "Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
She "had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any". Once she went to Jesus in faith, she was restored. Amazing.
When my son was born three years ago, I suffered from a postpartum hemorrhage. The blood loss was so bad that I needed a transfusion the next day. That just added to other issues we faced after his birth. Two years later, during my pregnancy with my daughter, at one of my later prenatal visits with my obstetrician, we discussed the fact that I had hemorrhaged during my last delivery. I was a little shaken when my doctor told me that it was something I was likely to repeat with the birth of my daughter. She added "this is something that women in third world countries die from all the time". (Nice, right?)
With those words ringing in my head for the next several days, I went to the Bible to get God's perspective on childbirth. What I found was interesting. With the exception of a few situations, most of the births that I read about in the Bible went a little something like this: "_________ conceived and bore a son", "_________ conceived again and bore a daughter". Nothing eventful. Nothing traumatic. The baby was born, and life went on. That was in sharp contrast with the situation surrounding my son's birth. I thought, "that's what I want. I just want to have my daughter, leave the hospital, and get on with our lives. I don't want to fear for my life when I go to give birth." God showed me that it didn't have to be that serious. So I prayed. I asked God to make that happen for me in light what I had gone through previously.
Additionally, a few weeks before my daughter was born, our church received communion (we usually do so on a monthly basis). Our pastor always emphasizes how Jesus said “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24) His body is broken for me...for my daughter. I was reminded of Isaiah 53:5 that says "by His stripes, we are healed". As I received communion that evening, I remembered what Jesus had done for us. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul says in regards to receiving the Lord's Supper "let a man examine himself". The way I was taught is that we must "examine" ourselves for anything that isn't right in our lives...either sin or physical infirmity. We are to confess those things to God. I lifted up the apparent infirmity in my womb and asked God to strengthen it to operate in the way He intended. I believe at that moment it was done.
A few weeks later, the manifestation of my healing came. My daughter was born. My doctor had what seemed like a team of hospital staff in the room in the event that I began hemorrhaging again, but they all soon filed out of the room with nothing to do or see. She was born in the early morning, and we were released from the hospital the next evening. We were only delayed by necessary paperwork and other hospital formalities. It was uneventful just like I desired- aside from the celebration of her debut, of course!
Some things you just can't find a solution for in the natural. While we should always approach everything in faith, that doesn't always happen. I'm reminded of the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus' garment and received healing in Luke 8:43-48 "Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
She "had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any". Once she went to Jesus in faith, she was restored. Amazing.
When my son was born three years ago, I suffered from a postpartum hemorrhage. The blood loss was so bad that I needed a transfusion the next day. That just added to other issues we faced after his birth. Two years later, during my pregnancy with my daughter, at one of my later prenatal visits with my obstetrician, we discussed the fact that I had hemorrhaged during my last delivery. I was a little shaken when my doctor told me that it was something I was likely to repeat with the birth of my daughter. She added "this is something that women in third world countries die from all the time". (Nice, right?)
With those words ringing in my head for the next several days, I went to the Bible to get God's perspective on childbirth. What I found was interesting. With the exception of a few situations, most of the births that I read about in the Bible went a little something like this: "_________ conceived and bore a son", "_________ conceived again and bore a daughter". Nothing eventful. Nothing traumatic. The baby was born, and life went on. That was in sharp contrast with the situation surrounding my son's birth. I thought, "that's what I want. I just want to have my daughter, leave the hospital, and get on with our lives. I don't want to fear for my life when I go to give birth." God showed me that it didn't have to be that serious. So I prayed. I asked God to make that happen for me in light what I had gone through previously.
Additionally, a few weeks before my daughter was born, our church received communion (we usually do so on a monthly basis). Our pastor always emphasizes how Jesus said “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24) His body is broken for me...for my daughter. I was reminded of Isaiah 53:5 that says "by His stripes, we are healed". As I received communion that evening, I remembered what Jesus had done for us. In 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul says in regards to receiving the Lord's Supper "let a man examine himself". The way I was taught is that we must "examine" ourselves for anything that isn't right in our lives...either sin or physical infirmity. We are to confess those things to God. I lifted up the apparent infirmity in my womb and asked God to strengthen it to operate in the way He intended. I believe at that moment it was done.
A few weeks later, the manifestation of my healing came. My daughter was born. My doctor had what seemed like a team of hospital staff in the room in the event that I began hemorrhaging again, but they all soon filed out of the room with nothing to do or see. She was born in the early morning, and we were released from the hospital the next evening. We were only delayed by necessary paperwork and other hospital formalities. It was uneventful just like I desired- aside from the celebration of her debut, of course!
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| My daughter getting cleaned up after she was born. |
My faith was built up by what happened at her birth, and now, I pass my testimony on to anyone who may be struggling with any kind of health problem (in your pregnancy or otherwise). God cares about the situation you're in. Just reach out to Him, look into His word and see what He has in store for you and your baby! I know I used this Scripture in one of my previous posts, but it rings true in this instance as well: "For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." Jeremiah 29:11 Amplified
How has God moved on behalf of your health? Is there any health issue you need prayer for? I would love to stand in agreement with you!
Thank you for that post. I am currently quite fearful of getting pregnant a third time. With Buggy being early and quite tiny (just 4lbs 10oz when we took him home and then with me needing 5 weeks of bed rest with Scrunch (while Buggy ran around), I just don't know if I am ready to consider another pregnancy. We wanted to just see what God had for us since we waited 8 years to start a family. It's great to hear a reminder that God is sovereign and that He can and does heal.
ReplyDeleteHe really is! I've heard testimony after testimony of how women have received healing for various conditions including issues with the placenta (I don't remember which one it is that can be really scary, but i think it was the really scary one), and there have been so many more. God is good all the time and we need to always remember to walk by faith and not by sight. Did you blog about your experience? I would love to hear/read more about your experiences.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, I can testify to overcoming 3 years of unexplained infertility through prayer and standing on God's Word. I also had a fairly traumatic first birth with about a 4 hour second stage labour and ventouse delivery. I really prayed into the second pregnancy and prayed for a good delivery - it was perfect. About 3 minutes of second stage labour and my daughter was born calmly in water. God was good. I found the book 'The Christian Childbirth Handbook' by Jennifer Vanderlaan (available from Amazon) very helpful. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow! My pushing stage lasted 3 1/2 hours with my son, so we were close (compared to about 15 minutes with my daughter)! I honestly believe that had I not had a midwife during his birth, I probably would have had a c-section...just based on the experience of a few women I know who had an OB attending their births. They really don't like to wait around! I appreciate you sharing your experience as well. I'll keep that book in mind too, as I'm always looking for something to recommend to fellow believers to help them have a positive birth experience.
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