At 17, she was in the midst of a brief season of rebellion. One night, instead of staying at a friend’s house, as she had told her parents, she went to a party thrown by a guy in his twenties. Although drinking and drug use took place, she abstained and eventually fell asleep. Later, she awoke to find herself being sexually assaulted by the young man. For many weeks she kept the rape quiet. But then she found out she was pregnant.
Fortunately, the young woman followed some godly counsel and proceeded with the pregnancy. And a loving Christian family adopted her beautiful baby. In Isaiah 46, God reveals some truths that help us gain a correct view of unplanned pregnancy. We learn:
• God knows each baby. In love, He carries the unborn and cares for them when they’re born (Isaiah 46:3). Regardless of whether a baby is planned or unplanned, God deeply cares for him or her.
• God forms each baby. He says, “I made you, and I will care for you” (Isaiah 46:4). Each new life is made in His image and must be protected because of that great value (Genesis 1:27).
• God knew this new life would come to be. He declares, “I can tell you the future before it even happens” (Isaiah 46:10). An unplanned pregnancy is not a surprise to Him (Psalm 139:16).
All these truths became clear to the young woman mentioned earlier. In time, she repented and returned to living for Jesus. As she drew close to God and admitted her guilt (Isaiah 46:8), she received forgiveness from Him for her sin and rebellion. Today, she loves God just as He has always loved her.
Pregnancies can be unplanned, but for God a new life is never unknown.
More:
• Jeremiah 1:5
• Jeremiah 29:11
Next:
Although sin can lead to a pregnancy, how does God view the new life? How can we compassionately help those who experience unwanted pregnancies?
hauntedhoney on November 24, 2010 at 4:27 am
i like this qoute…
hope that every young once like me or like my age.
know this or have read this before they decide for what will be their future will be
tom felten on November 24, 2010 at 9:07 am
hauntedhoney, each moment that God gives us is so precious. I agree that each future decision we make can draw us closer to God or push Him farther away. Praise Him for His grace, which provides a path even when we’ve wandered from Him (2 Corinthians 12:9).
lindagma on November 24, 2010 at 7:12 am
Not only was this precious baby saved, the mother was spared the despair and guilt she would have ultimately suffered had she chosen abortion. We overlook the impact abortion has on the mother… it is a killer for both mother and child.
tom felten on November 24, 2010 at 9:11 am
You’re right lindagma, and both mother and child are doing great! The little one is being loved big-time by the adoptive family and the biological mother is continuing to grow in Christ. 🙂
pinkthistle on January 18, 2011 at 2:12 pm
Totally agree with this I have been through this long before I became a Christian and the ghosts from it have only not long ago been put to rest. I thank our Father that He is so forgiving:)
Unknown woman on November 24, 2010 at 9:19 am
Would it be seen has a sin if while using unprotected sex the individual took a plan B pill? Would God see that like getting rid of a baby as well?
conniew on November 24, 2010 at 9:28 pm
Hi unknown,
There is so much I don’t know about your situation, but as a nurse and a former counselor in a pregnancy center, I can tell you what I know and what I often told the girls who came in asking this same question.
Plan B, emergency contraception, works in one of two ways: it can inhibit ovulation (egg will not be released on regular schedule) or it will change the lining of the uterus so that if fertilization of the egg did occur it will not implant (and therefore the pregnancy will be lost). This can get very confusing because there are some who recently have changed the definition of “pregnancy” to mean “once implantation on the wall of the uterus has occurred.” However, most pro-life people believe that once fertilization has occurred, this is a pregnancy. Another confusing aspect of Plan B is that you will never know if taking this interfered with a pregnancy or not. A very early abortion may have occurred or it may not have occurred. It is impossible to determine.
I understand why you are asking the question, but I would encourage you to ask yourself some different questions. The first would be about your sexual activity. Is this taking place within a marriage? If not, this is not God’s plan for you and there are many consequences involved in going against God’s Word.
Another question, and this is really difficult, is to ask yourself about trusting God. We know that he is the one who creates life and sustains a life in the womb. If he has created a life, can you believe that he has a plan and has a purpose for this unborn child, even if this is an inconvenient time for you to have a child? I know this is not easy and it goes against everything our society tells us about controlling our own destiny. But I also know when we allow God to be in control of our lives, there are great rewards.
I hope this answers some of your questions. I would also hope that it encourages you to seek Christ in every area of life. He does forgive every sin if we repent and turn from it and my intention is that you know his love and his grace in your life.
Invisible on November 24, 2010 at 11:40 am
This post couldn’t have come at a worse time. I would be one of the wicked ones who chose to abort their child.I disclosed this to someone for the first time in my life, only a week ago. I was a freshman in high school and strangely enough, at a “sleep over” which was not really a sleep over. I’m also the wicked one who chose to dive deeply into the alcohol and drugs provided to highten our experiences. Slept with someone I had never met and never saw again and found out I was pregnant two months later. I’ve always told myself it wasn’t a baby yet. maybe I wasn’t even really pregnant. (That was rich) I didn’t have a choice, i was only fifteen, I couldn’t be a mother. When I went to my mother, her only response was that I deserved it for going out and drinking. It was my problem and I’d better take care of it. So I did. Only a week ago did I finally admit to myself that I chose to kill this baby, my baby, because I didn’t care. I’m glad this girl chose to have her baby. She’s one of the ones god would forgive. Mine is dead. Discarded like it never existed. I hate myself for it and don’t expect forgiveness or want it. I chose to take a life so it’ only fitting that I should deal with the pain of knowing i chose do this. That child is just dead and gone. Sometimes I wonder if it would have looked like my children. I torture myself with thoughts of how old it would be, what would they be doing now if given the chance to live. It’s probably good that this got blogged today it reminds me that I have no right to comlain about anything that comes my way. at least I was allowed to breathe and live. it being thanksgiving only makes it worse.
regina franklin on November 24, 2010 at 9:59 pm
Dear Invisible,
Having worked with women whose stories have been deeply painful, as has yours, I have seen the devastation guilt can create. You are deeply loved by God. He knew every one of your days–just as He knew and knows the days of all of your children.
My encouragement is to put yourself in the eyes of one of your children. As a mom, you would not expect your child to live with guilt over having disappointed or failed you. Neither would you expect your chilren to live in a position of feeling as if they have deserved whatever pain has come their way.
As moms, we don’t want our children to greet each day with fear that they will never be able to overcome the past. We want them to live with hope and joy. God’s heart toward you is no less.
Your unborn child rests in the presence of God. I encourage you to allow the Lord to walk you through a healing process in grieving over your child.
There is an enemy who seeks to destroy your soul and to hinder the lives of those you love most. Your greatest tool of retribution against that enemy is to accept the freedom and forgiveness that Christ freely offers. Let your life be a place of healing–as you believe the truth yourself and offer this truth to women around you . May the Lord gives you the strength to rise up as a woman of His truth. Praying for you –Regina
daisymarygoldr on November 24, 2010 at 3:54 pm
You are right, in God’s perspective, there is no such thing as unplanned. No pregnancy takes God by surprise. He meticulously plans each baby even before they are conceived. Every baby is a gift from God and is an extension of His life here on earth.
This is not to make those who chose abortion, feel guilty because God readily forgives. It is also not to encourage people to get pregnant without getting married. We all know the complications that are created due to such choices. Using the example of virgin Mary and the supposedly illegitimate birth of Jesus also does not justify such cases.
Eight in ten of teen pregnancies are unplanned and the case cited above is that of an unplanned pregnancy out of wedlock. However, I know many married couples who terminate a healthy pregnancy just because they are not prepared. I know this because my own cousin did it. It is sad.
Also, there are many parents that use birth control and tell their children that they were mistakes or accidents. Some of these children are fortunate enough to be loved but most of them often grow up with deep-seated feelings of being unloved and unwanted.
Such individuals need to know that regardless of the circumstances that led to a baby’s conception, our Creator has a predetermined purpose that is unique for each and every baby.
And whether it is a planned or unplanned pregnancy, it helps us all understand how important life is—dust of the earth precious enough to hold the very breath of God.
anj1990 on November 24, 2010 at 5:16 pm
I thank God for this message today, because although I can’t relate to unplanned pregnancies I can speak as a sibling that is a single mother. It wasn’t until her 4th month that my sister confessed that she was pregnant, as her older sister (and only sibling) I felt as if I failed her as a role model and I could have prevented this.Being of African-American descent, what made things worse was the thought of how society would perceive her. It’s really funny how the church would welcome you with open and forgiving arms. But when an expectant single mother comes in the picture then the mother and the child (or children) are an “abomination” and discouraged from having/building a personal relationship with God.
However through encouragement from the word and the “right” people, it makes our new life much easier. Since Isaiah was born this past October, he’s brought us constant joy and we wouldn’t trade him for anything. It’s not easy, but we know God has brought him to the world for a purpose. Thank you and God bless 🙂
Miriam sena on November 24, 2010 at 5:19 pm
It’s beautiful text i really liked what you said on it…..
geena on January 25, 2012 at 4:58 am
I stumbled upon this blog today and couldnt help reading this post and comments. I was so moved that i feel like sharing my story too.
Just like Invisibles story, although i wasnt into alcohol or drugs,i just found out that i was pregnant by my boyfriend of six years whom we planned marriage. I have already had my first abortion into our 2nd year but the second was what really did me in. I made that choice of getin rid of the baby because of a silly comment my boyfriend made. I did it myself because my health insurance was attached to my parents and the results of whatever i did in a hospital or clinic went back to them, i couldnt let them know. It was like torture seeing the bits and pieces, for months i was traumatised and the guilt was unbearable. Just then, i think the whole world was either pregnant or had babies, i just saw them everywhere i went. i had no one to talk to, i couldnt tell anyone, my parents were strict and would never accept this, my boyfriend wasnt even bothered.
I suddenly realised that i could have grace, i could have mercy, i could have pardon . I prayed and cried and gave thanks. I told my God i didnt deserve to be forgiven for what i did was bad, i just wanted to be able to hadle it but i got more than i asked.. My burden became lighter,in church and in devotionals the Lord spoke to me, i was recieved grace and pardon..
I havent forgotten, never think i could but through grace and the knowledge that i had recieved forgiveness,my life changed. God probably wanted me to get to know Him better, rely on Him…. His grace is sufficient
tom felten on November 24, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Invisible, I strongly agree with Godschild. We are all sinners (Romans 3:23). It’s only by God’s grace that any of us can know forgiveness and hope (Ephesians 2:8). You have been set free from your sin and purified by Him (1 John 1:9) based on your belief in Jesus. To paraphrase a line from the article, “Today, God loves you just as He has always loved you.” Don’t allow your past to hold you back from the joys of the gifts God has given you—including your children that you mentioned. I believe the one you grieve for is rejoicing in God’s presence today. You have been forgiven by God. This prayer from David can be your own: “Oh, give me back my joy again; You have broken me—now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me” (Psalm 51:8-10). May you experience His joy today.