The Sheer Sweetness of Swollen Bellies: Why I Marvel at God's Chosen Pregnancy
Okay, friends, let's talk about something that's been on my heart lately: pregnancy. Yeah, I know, it sounds so…normal, right? But honestly, when I really think about it, the whole thing is just mind-blowing. I mean, we’re talking about *life* being formed, nourished, and brought into the world, all within a woman’s body. And when I look at it through the lens of my faith, I see it as this incredible testament to God's power and purpose.
There's this verse in Jeremiah 1:5 that always gets me, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Think about that! God knew us, every single one of us, before we even took our first breath. He had a plan, a purpose. It makes those swollen bellies not just a biological process but a sacred vessel, right? A sign of something way bigger than us, that we’re all part of His grand design. It’s humbling, truly.
I remember when my sister, Sarah, was pregnant with her first. She was so sick, she could barely keep anything down. And I'll admit, I worried. I mean, seeing her struggle was tough. But even through the morning sickness, the exhaustion, and the general discomfort, there was this glow about her. This kind of quiet strength. It made me realize just how resilient women are. Like, we’re built for this. And I think, we’re built for this because God designed us this way. He gave us the capacity to create life, to carry life, and to give life. Talk about a miracle!
There's something else that I've been pondering lately. In Psalm 127:3, it says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward." This really challenges the way we often view pregnancy. Society sometimes portrays it as a burden, or an inconvenience. But scripture calls it a heritage, a reward. That shifted something inside me. I mean, if God calls it a reward, why are we so prone to grumble about it or see it as a problem? Even unwanted pregnancies – if God is the master of life, and each child is a gift, then there’s grace to be found even when it’s not the life we would have chosen. It makes me wonder about where we get our values. Is it worldly, or divinely inspired?
I’ve been trying to incorporate this perspective in my daily life. When I pass a pregnant woman at the store or see a new family with a newborn, I’m not just seeing a woman who's in the middle of a significant life event or a family just starting out. I see a testament to God's love. I see a woman who is carrying life, carrying the future in her belly. I see God’s hands at work. It’s powerful stuff. And I've made a point to pray for all pregnant women, asking God for their strength, their health, and for the healthy development of their babies.
It's so easy to focus on the struggles and hardships of life. To see the problems. But, if I’m trying to see the world the way God does, we need to see the good where sometimes only the bad seems visible. Pregnancy is just one example. It’s something that can be really hard, really challenging, and yet, it’s such a beautiful sign of hope, isn’t it? It points to something eternal. And so much of life is like that – it's tough and painful, but there's often joy and purpose mixed in there too, if we know where to look.
We’re called to see the world with eyes that seek the good, to see the blessings even in the midst of the chaos. We’re told we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and if that’s true, shouldn’t that extend to pregnancy, to the whole process of life?
So here’s my question for you all, as we ponder these things: Where are you seeing the struggles today? Are you able to see God’s grace and blessings in the midst of them? How can we actively shift our focus to a more divine perspective?