Monday, June 21, 2010

The Curse of Childbirth - A Devotion

"Women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."  1 Timothy 2:15

 I don't pretend to know what this verse means.  I think perhaps it refers to the curse of childbirth in Genesis 3:16, and that women will collectively be saved from sin by enduring the pains of childbirth, as long as we are faithful, loving, and holy.  Perhaps it means God will save us physically during the intense pain and process of labor and delivery.  Or perhaps by enduring childbirth and childrearing we will fully understand what God went through when we sinned by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thereby understanding why he did what he did, helping us to put our trust in God once again.  Kids have an uncanny way of teaching us about ourselves--including our sin and disobedience--and about our relationship with God our heavenly Father, for what child does not disobey his parents at some point?  Furthermore, childbirth may help us to identify with Christ's suffering on the cross, an intense suffering that brings about life.

This passage came at a very appropriate time for me.  I am not far from childbirth--less than two weeks away from my due date.  The pain and suffering ahead of me is a bit frightening, and yet I am trusting God to help me through it (with help from my husband, midwives, and nurses!)  I'm also trusting in him to prepare me for parenthood, and all the challenges and joys that it will inevitably bring.

Prayer:  Father God, I pray for you to cover me with your saving grace as I endure the pains of childbirth.  May your grace be sufficient for me not only in childbirth, but also in childrearing, and may your power be made perfect in my weakness.  I pray also for your grace to cover over my daughter, that she would come to know you as her Lord and Savior, and that your truth and love would shine brightly through her life.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:9