Yesterday, as I was scrolling through social media, a reel popped up. It was the story of a mom who had lost her baby. I am not sure why I kept listening, but it was both heartwrenching and soul-touching so I kept listening.
This mama started out by telling her listeners how much this precious girl was wanted. They had had a healthy boy who was now a preschooler and then they had had a miscarriage. Finally, they were pregnant with this little girl. And all was well…until…
That 20 week ultrasound, where they found out their little girl had a missing kidney and multiple other very serious problems.
“We can just end it right here,” said the doctor.
The mom shared her gut-wrenching grief and deep-seated offense at this suggestion.
So far, so good. I kept watching in order to find out what had happened to this tiny baby girl?
In a few seconds, the reel took an unexpected turn. I still recoil at the words I heard this mom say.
After a week or two of appointments with many doctors, in which they were told the baby had zero chance to live and would be in pain for any moments she did live, they decided to pray. Great, prayer is great idea, right?
But do you know what ”God” told this couple to do? Supposedly, he gave them peace to end this baby’s life in her womb!
Yes, this couple made the decision to end this precious baby’s life.
This made me think of all of the brave couples who choose NOT to do this. And there are so many of you godly young couples who have made this choice. I know some of you.
To do such a terrible thing under the guise of a “feeling of peace” from a god made up out of their own imagination is unconscionable, in my opinion.
Why do I share this? I share this first to express my respect and admiration for those parents who choose to allow God to control the timing in a situation like this, despite the pressure to end their baby’s life that comes from the doctors. I can’t imagine the grief or the sorrow that accompanies such a decision as you wait to see what will happen.
I know that these babies often defy the odds and are born normal. Some have mild issues or even severe issues that bring a lifetime of challenge. And some live only a few moments, just as the doctor had predicted. No matter what the outcome, God is sovereign and these precious lives are part of His plan and given for good in the lives of those whom the baby’s life has touched. He uses it to grow them stronger and to conform them into the image of Christ (Romans 8:28-29).
The choice to end a pregnancy that does not appear to have a good outcome is the easier choice. Far harder is the heart-wrenching choice to see the pregnancy through and trust in the Lord, despite knowing there will, most likely, be no happy ending.
Second, I share this to remind us that we can’t make decisions or choices based on our emotions. That young lady’s story was filled with tears and heart-wrenching emotion. She had obviously convinced herself that she was doing what is right. But she wasn’t.
We have to decide what is right or wrong based on God’s Word. If we rely on our feelings, anything can look right or wrong, depending upon how it is presented.
These days, we are being taught (brainwashed) in both the secular world and in the church world, to make moral decisions based upon how we feel. Even if it means twisting scripture, taking it out of context, or changing a doctrine that has been clearly preached and understood since the inception of the Church.
Oh, may we turn from this kind of decision-making and use the Bible as our grid as we face many decisions every day. We may not ever have to make the heart-wrenching decision of life or death. But every day we are faced with choices. Will we base them on our feelings or on what God has to say in His Word?
When I think about this, I am reminded of how easy it is for me to base so many choices on my feelings, rather than what I know is right in the Bible. It’s quite a convicting thought. At least for me.
I am thankful for God’s tremendous grace and abundant mercy on my poor soul. Without it, I would be lost. We just keep going and we keep learning and we keep growing. Thankfully, we can rest in His love and grace as we learn and grow.
AMEN!
I have heard of three cases similar to this in the past few months, and all chose to do what the doctor suggested and end the pregnancy. I always think of the parents who continued with the pregnancy and allowed God to be God, and how, like you said, some were born normal, some with special needs, and some not surviving. But they allowed God to be in control. My heart breaks for those facing this type of situation.