I am pregnant. I’ve been pregnant for a little over 41 weeks.
You can probably imagine what it’s like to be anticipating something for nearly 10 months and wondering, more than anyone else could possibly be wondering, what are the answers to all those “baby timeline” questions posited by loving friends, family and observant strangers: “Didn’t he get the memo to come out?” “Have you felt any signs of labor yet?”
I feel an aggressive temptation to doubt, to question whether God knows precisely what He’s doing or to wonder why He’s taking so long to bring this baby into the world, or what His grand purpose is in all this waiting.
Since I’ve been away from my legal secretary desk for two weeks now after starting maternity leave a week before my due date, I’ve been able to spend more time at home than I’ve ever had to spend at home. I’m thankful that Bobby has been able to work from home for part of this time which at least has given me someone to interact with throughout the day (sharing meals, taking walks, listening to music, etc., although I try not to disturb his work too much). During this short season of waiting, trusting, anticipating, and resting, God has been continuously reminding me that He is near, He is good, and He is faithful. Why does this matter?
In the face of rest-robbing doubt, remembering God’s faithfulness throughout my life, throughout all of history, and dwelling upon His goodness and love inspires my heart to abide in Him, to rest in Him, to continue trusting His unfailing Word and His steadfast love. And it inspires my whole being to praise Him now, while I still have my being. There’s no need for me to put off praising Him until I’ve experienced the fulfillment of the thing I’ve been looking forward to for the last 10 months (holding my precious baby boy). I have every reason to praise Him now (just as I’ll have every reason to praise Him then, when I am holding His precious provision for our family).
This is true for all believers as we hold fast to the hope that we’ve been given through Christ of living eternally in the presence of God, completely free from the presence and power of sin and death. We have this hope as an anchor for our souls, firm and secure. God will finish the good work He’s begun in us and in all of history.
For those of you who are now in Christ, remind yourself of these powerful truths which are the pillars of your present reality:
- I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.
- I have been brought out of exile and loneliness, adopted into the family of Christ!
- I have been rescued from death, forgiven of all my sins! I have been reconciled to my Maker, the One, True, Living God!
- I have been given new life through the very Word of God (James 1:18; I Pet. 1:23)—Jesus Christ who laid down His spotless, blameless life for utterly sinful me and raised me to new, abundant, never-ending life through His resurrection power now at work in me!
- I have been given everything I need in Christ! The Lord is my Shepherd—I suffer NO lack!
- And even though I’ve never seen God, I heartily trust Him (by grace through faith) and rejoice with inexpressible joy because I am now receiving the goal of my faith, the salvation of my soul! (I Pet. 1:8-9)
Yes, today is the day to remember that the Lord is good and completely trustworthy. God cannot fail. He has never failed. Today is the day and now is the moment to lift our hearts and hands in praise to the God who gives life and hope to wretched, condemned sinners. He alone is worthy of ALL praise ALL of the time!
Today, I remember again that He has written all of our days in His book, including the birthday of my little Parker David Gilles. I am confident that God will complete the good work of this 41+ week pregnancy in His perfect time and that we’ll have a wonderful time celebrating the display of God’s power, beauty and wonderful love as we sing “Happy Birthday” to our baby boy, whenever that day comes. . .
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