Blessing in Obedience

Someone asked me recently if I believed that the Holy Spirit could tell a couple when they are done having children, thus allowing them to cut off their fertility.  I didn't have a solid answer at the time.  But it prompted me to do some serious thinking about the subject.  For us, my husband and I believe in leaving that decision up to the Lord.  And I can name blessing after blessing in our own lives for having made that decision.  But what about the church in general?  I know people who have ended their fertility for seemingly very godly reasons.  One couple had four children already and loved having children.  But they wanted to open their home and hearts to adopting and felt lead to limit their biological children so that they could do that.  I have heard of families only having a couple of children so that they could be more free to minister in the church.  Then there are the women on whom pregnancy is very hard and those to whom pregnancy can be very dangerous.

After mulling this over for several weeks and not coming to a definitive conclusion in my own mind, I decided to do something intelligent.  I asked my husband his opinion.  And, as it typical for him, his answer was solid.  So after chewing on his answer for a couple more weeks, I thought I would share it here.

There is no commandment that says we may not end our fertility,  nothing we can point to that says, "If you end your fertility, you are sinning."  In other words, it's not in the Ten Commandments.  But if we look at Biblical principle, there is a very strong argument for having an open womb.  The first command ever given in the Bible is to "be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and subdue it."  That phrase "fill the earth" literally means to fill to overflowing, an overabundance.  So it's not a stretch to see that God has designed us to be very fruitful.  This command was given before sin had entered the world.  So this was God's plan in his perfect creation.  Since God is the same yesterday, today and forever, why would He change His plan just because we're in the 21st century?  His principles stand throughout time.  So if He has told us to fill the earth to overflowing, who are we to decide what is enough?

Infertility in the Bible is seen as a curse.  In Leviticus 20, childlessness is the punishment for incest.  Similarly, Michal, David's wife, had no children because she mocked David for dancing before the Ark of the Lord.  (2 Sam. 6:23)  Look at Genesis 20:18 and Hosea 9:11 for further examples of this.  If barrenness is a curse, why would someone want to bring that curse upon themselves?

Conversely, having children is seen as a blessing. Psalm 127 is very famous for speaking of children as a blessing.  Fertility is part of the blessing of obedience in Deuteronomy 7:14 and Exodus 23:26.  Part of the blessing given to Abraham and his descendants is many offspring.  (Genesis 22:17, 26:24, 28:3)

Also, the Lord is given full credit for the creation of life and the opening of the womb.  He is the one who enabled Rachel to have children. (Genesis 30:22) He also allowed Leah to have children because she was unloved in her marriage. (Genesis 29:31)   Isaac prayed for his wife, Rebekah, to have children and after that she became pregnant.  The Bible says, "The Lord answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant." (Gen 25:21)  If the Lord is the one who opens and closes the womb, then shouldn't we leave it up to Him?  Doesn't He know what we need so much better than we do?

There is much more that the Bible has to say about this, but it would fill a book.  So if you would like to read more, I highly recommend Nancy Campbell's "Be Fruitful and Multiply".  I was also blessed by "A Mom Just Like You" by Vicki Farris.  Although this book was not written around this subject, she does share her personal journey from using birth control to leaving it to the Lord.  There is also much more in her book that will be encouraging for mothers.

I used to be someone who thought those open womb people were crazy.  I found my children to be burdensome much of the time and I often felt trapped and unsatisfied in my role as a mother.  Only as I have learned to embrace God's vision for women and mothers have I entered into a season of unparalleled joy.  Through this experience, I have come to love obeying the Word of the Lord, whether or not I understand why.  I am now in pursuit of understanding everything His Word says about me, so that my life can be in line with the Lord in every way possible.  As I do this, the blessings keep increasing and increasing.  My home is becoming more and more righteous.  My children are happier, my marriage is unbelievably blessed and I am filled with joy and peace.  God's ways go against our human understanding.  They just don't make sense most of the time!  But when we obey, we can be sure that we will be blessed!

These are my "unplanned" blessings.  When I think that I could have prevented them from existing, my heart is grieved.  They bring our family so much joy.

Daniel's Baptism

Saturday was a very special day for our family, especially our oldest son Daniel.  He was baptized, thereby publicly declaring his intent to follow the Lord for the rest of his life.  The occasion was made even more special because my husband was the one to baptize him.  Since he is Daniel's spiritual leader, it seemed fitting for him to baptize his son.

Just before Daniel is dunked.

One year ago, Daniel could not have been baptized.  We had not seen the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life.  But in September of last year, he surrendered his heart to the Lord.  We have seen him grow so much in this past year.  In many ways, he is not even the same person he used to be.  We are so proud of him and thrilled that he has decided to follow Jesus.

I missed the shot where he was under, but the deed has been done.