The Sanctification of Pregnancy

Nobody can prepare you for pregnancy, I suppose it is much like many things in life; you read books, you get "wisdom" from fellow friends and family, and yet until you walk through it, you really have no idea what it entails.  I remember thinking pregnancy would be sheer bliss, I mean seriously, after all, you get the "glow" right and that cute LITTLE belly right?!  Ignorance is bliss.  Here I am, 3 1/2 months in, and pregnancy has been nothing like what I expected or 'dreamed' of.  In fact, pregnancy has been a tool in the hand of God to refine me more and more into the image of Christ.  Don't get me wrong, I am SO excited to meet our little "peanut" and SO thankful for this gift growing inside of me, but I will be honest when I say, I didn't expect it to be so trying.

For the past two and a half months the Lord has impressed 2 Corinthians 12:9 on my heart over and over again.  I wish I could say that I have learned to rest in the promise found here and have seen abundant fruit, but instead I have to admit that although there have been days in which I have seen the fruit of this verse, there have been days when I have relied on my own strength and found myself hopelessly discouraged.  To those who have never been pregnant, it probably sounds extreme for me to say that pregnancy, this early on especially, has brought so much sanctification in my life.  But the Truth is, that as believers, God is CONSTANTLY at work in us to conform us to the image of Christ and will use anything and everything to complete His work...even the amazing and miraculous gift of pregnancy. By His grace I am growing in this promise everyday.

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

But what does this verse even mean, and how has it become a comfort to me during this season, or you during yours?!  

The Apostle Paul is speaking of his infamous "thorn in the flesh".  He is praying for the Lord to remove the affliction, something that I do too, every single day.  Praying for removal of this is not a lack of faith but rather an exhibiting of the very faith in a God who alone can remove that affliction if He so wills.  Yet, our prayer must be that the affliction reach its means for why it has come.  There is a desired and purposed end for all affliction.  Even Christ Himself prayed to the Father during His time of great affliction in the Garden.  

And God answered Paul's prayer, and has answered mine each day in the same way...God did not remove the affliction or suffering but rather supplied the grace to endure.  Matthew Henry spoke of this very Truth, "The good-will of God towards us, and this is enough to enlighten and enliven us, sufficient to strengthen and comfort us, to support our souls and cheer up our spirits, in all afflictions and distresses."  

And then the Apostle Paul responds rightly, as I pray I would each day, by saying that He will glory or boast all the more in His afflictions that God would be glorified.  "And the reason of his glory and joy on account of these things was this-they were fair opportunities for Christ to manifest the power and sufficiency of his grace resting upon him, by which he had so much experience of the strength of divine grace that he could say, When I am weak, then am I strong. This is a Christian paradox: when we are weak in ourselves, then we are strong in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ; when we see ourselves weak in ourselves, then we go out of ourselves to Christ, and are qualified to receive strength from him, and experience most of the supplies of divine strength and grace." (Matthew Henry) 

And so I want to encourage you all with the same promise the Lord encouraged Paul with and has encouraged me with each and everyday during this pregnancy thus far...His grace is sufficient for you, He will give you the exact amount for each circumstance exactly when you need it.  Depend on Him, rest in that and find peace, and hope.