By Esther (The other one)
To everything there is a season (Ecc.3:1).
The activities of the past week were a lot less dramatic. At 40 weeks pregnant, I am enjoying our new sofas – praise God for His good and perfect timing! Timing has been on my mind heavily, since the last week began and I was astounded to realise my schedule was blissfully empty.
Our January was so busy moving and setting up a new home for ourselves and the new babe on the way, that I am ready to admit, I felt far from ready for the task of actual motherhood! When I would peer into the room that was to become our baby’s room; void of anything except storage items, it was difficult to feel excited about his arrival – the majority of my prayer-time was spent pleading with God to keep our baby inside me until there was a room to welcome him into! In His goodness, He not only allowed us all the time we needed to set up the room, but our good Father also provided us with the time to tidy and make space for the new babe in our own hearts!
My suddenly clear schedule allowed me the time for all the things that one usually has to cram into the sidelines of the day; praying, resting, reading, emailing, cooking and cleaning. Now these suddenly became the ‘star players’ and what was even better – there was no sense in my spirit that I was meant to be doing anything else! After a few days like this, there were for the first time, moments between just God and myself, when I was able to watch and marvel at baby Samuel jiggling around in my belly. After a few years in Israel working as an English tutor and caring about other people’s children, it suddenly became a reality that this baby is where I am to focus my time, love and energy – my OWN – how unbelievably exciting!
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood…but against the rulers of the darkness of this world…(Ephesians 6:12)
Of course, having never given birth and being the sensitive sort when it comes to pain, the voice of God’s adversary had been successfully hounding me throughout the pregnancy and had been telling me that I was too small and too weak, amongst many other things! The Father however knew I needed some ample time in prayer to silence his voice and the past week provided me with both the time and the words of the apostle Paul (during my morning reading plan) to battle through with:
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Soon after some morning and afternoon prayer walks – in essence, after time with God – my requests changed from ‘keep baby Samuel in the womb’ to ‘I’m ready for him to join me here; call him forth!’ When the weekend arrived, my husband and I cleared our schedule and waited for our new little friend. It is now Monday morning and I have to laugh; God certainly knows how to ensure His children are welcomed into this life with all the ceremony they deserve. The time really was a surprise gift from the Father, who certainly knew that more needed to be prepared aside from our apartment before this birth. I haven’t been this excited since our wedding. Our first year anniversary is coming up within a fortnight – do you think our son is waiting for that?!!
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