As most of you know, I had home births with my babies. Yes, with Hannah I ended up at the hospital, but only after laboring a couple of days at home. So, when one of my sisters asked me to be with her during her labor and delivery, I was more than excited.
This was a moment that I had quietly been waiting for. The opportunity to walk another woman through this process is not only a privilege, but an honor. When I received the “It’s time!” phone call, I swiftly threw a bag of things together and headed toward her town.
From the moment of arrival to the moment of delivery, I was shocked at how seamlessly things happened. God gave me insight into every need she had, and her husband looked to me for cues and was completely attentive and willing to serve her too. All through the first prayer I prayed over her upon my arrival, to climbing on the bed with her to ease her back discomfort with my fist during contractions, to standing at the foot of the bed and leading her through each contraction, to the glorious moment when we saw the life we had been waiting to lay eyes on, felt like a miracle.
When the baby arrived, my first response was a loud sob that came out like a huge exhale and then I quickly recovered to take the pictures that you’ll never be able to take again. The first hold. The first scream. The cleaning up. The look of relief on the momma’s face. The very first family photo. What a treasure and delight those memories are to my heart. I only hope to have this privilege again.
A few days ago, God reminded me of those events, and when I asked Him why I was thinking of it He said, “In the same way your instinct kicked in during her labor, your instinct is now kicking in to walk My people through this season…Because you’ve been here before.”
Wow. Another powerful moment washed over me.
I have been here before. Not this exact situation, but this struggle with so much being unknown. The strain of not knowing if work will continue or if we’re to start over…again. The struggle of standing on promises even when nothing looks like it will ever happen. Yes, I know this place well. Oh, that my struggle would mean that yours would be shortened, but who knows…Only God.
All believers should be helping the world walk this season out right now. We know the answer. We know where to find peace. We know how to stand. We know how to talk to and listen to God. We are the ones who should be leading the charge through this crazy moment, but are we?
Honestly, some are, and others are noticeably living subject to the spirit of fear and death. The day has come when this question must be answered. Choose this day whom you will serve.
Prayer Moment: God, give me the courage to walk out this season with the boldness You have placed inside of me. Help me to prop others up, not tear them down. Help me to be a light and encourager, not a pessimist. Help me to be filled with more faith than doubt. I can only walk through this with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15
365 Days in the Presence 