Jesus in the Morning Radio Talk Show

Title: God knows what he’s doing.

Psalm 127:3 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

My family journey parenthood actually begins many years ago.

Because of medical opinion, my wife and I were actually under the assumption that we would not be having children.

Looking back, I’m actually happy things happens that way, because at the time, the situation made me do some serious inward self-reflection and question did I want to be with my wife only because I found her attractive and could see her as nothing more than a vessel to build my own selfish legacy? Or did I truly love the woman and not what I thought she could give me? I discovered that loved the person more than any potential legacy.

However, after being settled on the fact that we would have no children of our own, we were gifted with the birth of our first-born child, many years ago. It was just the three of us for years, until we were again blessed with another child. We also had an addition to our family and yet again, one final child added to our family.

I’m reminded by this verse of scripture.

Isaiah 55:8-9

KJV 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God has proven this many times over the course of my life. Just when I think I know him, he shows me that he’s only revealed what I can understand and that understanding often coincides with how deeply we wish to read, study, pray, worship and fellowship with him.

So here we are, set in our family ways and content with what he’s blessed us with, when lo and behold, my wife alerts me to the potential birth of yet another addition to our family, almost a full decade later!  To say we were surprised, would be an understatement. Once we settled with the new reality, we did everything we could to prepare. 

There were some anxious thoughts for sure. I’d been temporarily disabled from my regular job; we had various mounting responsibilities. My wife started a business venture, and she truly cares about her work and is committed to the well-being of those associated with her company. Bills, health and legal issues, economic uncertainty, spiritual attacks, marriage commitments, family pressures, etc, etc, etc.

There were even social and family opinions of the lunacy of having children at this time and how would we do it?  The unspoken reality is that much like Jesus in the ship during the storm, when the disciples were troubled, they went to Christ, and he calmed the storm.

What settled us and enabled us to endure our storms was also a reliance on the almighty God, through our savior Jesus Christ and tempering where life actually comes from.

The attitude towards babies can be shocking sometime, even from believers. After witnessing childbirth, I can confirm that it is a miracle part of God’s process and is only sinfully taken for granted.

Enter Gabriel. Our son Gabriel was born and has already been a tremendous blessing in our lives. In Hebrew, one meaning for Gabriel is “God is my strength”. We can truly say we relied on God during the time leading up to his birth. We relied on him, and he showed us (again) he is worthy of the faith. Little Gabriel has already motivated many family members in ways we cannot dully describe.

Many barren women from old times, to the new, women around the world have longed for the responsibility to have children.

Genesis 15-21 Abraham and Sarah

Genesis 25-Issac and Rebekah

1 Samuel 1-2 Hannah

There are too many to name here. But these examples should show us that it is an awesome blessing to be a parent and not to be underestimated.

To those who still long to have children, you are not alone. I don’t know what the future holds for you, but I do know who holds your future. None of us are perfect, that’s why we need a savior. But we, as flawed, imperfect people can reach out to a perfect God, who hears our prayers and answers according to his sovereign will.  Continue to reach out to him in prayer and continue to hope on him.

There’s so much more I could say, but I am only writing an article and not a book. Perhaps more in the future. But to whoever reads this, I pray the words in this article blesses you and points your towards the glory of the risen Lord.

Brother Germaine