Recently I shared a post on Facebook about my experience that I had when my daughter was almost born at 23 weeks.
Although I didn’t go into a lot of detail, I shared briefly about our trials and the outcome. I knew it would get a little attention, but I mostly wanted it to bring awareness. There are a lot of heart breaking stories of miscarriages, botched abortions, fathers who had no choice, and women who grieve and seek salvation after they chose to abort. People live without hope sometimes. I understand, but I wanted to share my story of hope and forgiveness in the midst of fear of the unknown and the what-ifs.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Instead of bringing more attention to myself and diving into a story that brought us to our knees, I will share this picture with you and then I would like to encourage everyone in the best way that I know how and that is through God’s Word.
The picture says: “@23 weeks, they told me she wouldn’t live. They said she would die and we would live in grief and depression. Terminate, they said. Last week she turned 15 -> Jeremiah 29:11 is not cliché! #WHYWEMARCH.” It is all true and then some.
God's Word speaks to all of this. He heals all brokenness and lifts us up out of our pits of despair. He fights for us. Click To Tweet
Please take heart! There is hope!
God’s Word speaks to all of this. He heals all brokenness and lifts us up out of our pits of despair. He fights for us. There is hope, and in that hope, we find bravery. Seek comfort in these verses, and share them with others who are in need of hope.
Psalm 119:73 ESV
Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
Psalm 139:13-16 ESV
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Isaiah 49:16 ESV
Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me.
Jeremiah 1:5 ESV
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you
Matthew 11:29 ESV
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls
Luke 12:6-7 ESV
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Acts 17:25 ESV
Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 ESV
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
Philippians 3:10 ESV
That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death
Ephesians 2:10 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
1 Peter 1:6-7 ESV
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ
My child, she is my hero. All of my children, they are blessings. I never thought that my ministry would be to raise my family, to homeschool my children, and to nurture them in the Word of God. Here I am, doing the Lord’s will and accomplishing His plans.
I fought to keep her in. We named her, prepared for her, and prayed for her. The doctors wanted me to give up, but I didn’t. At 39 weeks, just 48 hours after my husband deployed, she came into this world. 39 weeks! The miracle was solidified when the little home she had lived in for 39 weeks was healed over. The amniotic sac broke in a brand new place on her birthday. The Lord is amazing. His plans are greater than ours. My child would not perish at the hands of man, but live by the grace of God. What a testimony to life!
Her favorite verse is Psalm 139:13 ESV For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. Life…
These photos are from the 2018 March for Life, Honolulu, Hawaii. We will keep marching until we can no longer move.
For the whole story, here is my latest post from January, 2020. Fighting For Life Upstream
Wow, this is a story that made me cry. What a blessing and a reminder of how much Bigger our God is than any fear we have!
What a beautiful testimony! You are such a great woman of faith that your children are so blessed that you are their mother. Thank you for inspiring us with your story! And your daughter appears to be changing the world with hers:)
Thank you for your encouraging words!
What an amazing testimony! Very encouraging also with wonderful scriptures.
What a great story to highlight the power of God! Thank you for sharing this!
What a blessing from God. Thank you for sharing your testimony and the verses of encouragement. How great is our God! – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
What an awesome testimony to God’s power and ability! We are never to give up hope. Our Lord is capable of awesome miracles. Happy belated birthday to your daughter!
Thank you.