The world we live in manages to sling the mud of so-called modern social wisdom and political wrangling at us daily. With an overwhelming variety of information in our hands and readily available in a pocket or handbag, it’s not hard to quickly catch up and know the latest developments. We need a bath—every day—just as we stay clean from the physical dust and the dirt of our environment.

For unbelievers, this is just the normal course of life. Fear takes hold of a heart, discouragement and hopelessness become a pattern of thought, and all sorts of treatments are used to calm panic.

We believers have access to the Arms of an almighty, loving God who is our Father and always available. Moreover, we have His words at our disposal in a “library” full of promises that drive out fear, restore hope, and guarantee the best for the future. In His embrace, He speaks wondrous words of calm and rest directly into our minds from our own spirit, which is reborn, made new by the creative power of the Holy Spirit.

We, as Kingdom children, deal with the brokenness of our world alongside the rest of humanity. The only difference is our access to the Source of everything good and beautiful, that builds up and does not tear down, and which protects our lives on a deep level with the supernatural provision that is promised. Our own preconceived ideas can hinder divine provision, and it is exactly at that level that we again and again humbly submit to the life path we are led on, so that we learn to trust God deeper and more fully. Only the Holy Spirit can convince us of our own broken thinking and words.

Many years ago, our first baby was born in Germany. As it goes with childbirth, there was a whole series of new theories and philosophies about the birth process and baby care, communicated in a series of prenatal classes. One of the prevailing trends was a return to the natural birth process, opposing interventions by gynecologists and other specialists. Although more than 300,000 babies are born worldwide daily—most of them in Africa and very likely far from modern facilities—we often hear of things going wrong during birth.

It is precisely these thoughts that drive me to the Word of the Lord as the time draws near for the birth of our third grandchild, the firstborn of our youngest son. From the prenatal classes I hear the “new” thinking about birth and baby care. It all sounds wonderful—most of it not so new. The circle of friends who are also expecting share their dreams about birth and prepare for water births and home births under the supervision of a midwife. Our children decide to trust the hospital if intervention is necessary. In Germany, my husband trusted the gynecologist’s expert knowledge and urged him to intervene to save mother and child if needed.

In my preparation for Easter in April, I read Psalm 22 again. David is burdened and afraid and feels that God has forsaken him. Just like Jesus on the Cross, in the moment of intense abandonment, he cries out to the very God he feels has forsaken him. But I read on and come to verse 10. My heart leaps with joy, and I know the Lord is exposing my hidden fear.

In the multi-translation Bible I’m reading, the meaningful alternative is quoted in red letters:

“For You brought me out of the womb (drawn me from the birth canal), and gave me safety at my mother’s breast.”

As usual, I grab a series of other translations so that I can absorb the words and become literally full of the Word.

Beautiful versions of these powerful words drive the last grain of unease about the coming birth out of my mind and heart:

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. (NIV)

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. (NLT)

The in-laws arrive from the East Coast of Canada after a five-hour flight, and around the time we are set to drive to the airport—7 pm—my daughter-in-law lets me know she’s no longer going along to pick up her parents. She thinks the process has started and wants to try to get some rest, as advised in the birth classes. I welcomed the family into the guest room and everyone went to bed.

As usual, I wake up early and pick up my phone just before 4 am. The message stands out in gold: Baby born just before 1 am—mom and baby  perfectly well and healthy.

Later that day they return from the hospital where they got the green light to go home. It is only then that we get to know their name choice. Even more: our baby girl was born at home under the supervision of two midwives. When they called the midwife at 10 pm to explain how labour was progressing, she was busy with two other births. She called a colleague who loaded her home-birth kit—just in case—into the trunk of her car. When she arrived at their house, she knew it was too late to go to the hospital. She called another colleague, and they handled a completely natural birth, without pain relief, right there in our children’s little home.

Answer to prayer! Home-birth equipment at hand without any prior warning. May I let my imagination run wild and “see” the entire process in the unseen realm? Angels under orders guiding the footsteps of everyone involved. Decisions made in heaven under the authority of the Word of God.

Can coincidence, luck, or fate ever enter my vocabulary? Never, ever! Rather, miracles, favour, and the power of the Word are my “explanation” for immense grace and infinite gratitude.

While we wait for them to come home with the little one, my Verse of the Day is:

You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that full well. (Psalm 139:13–14)

Just to make sure the miracle is further underlined and never forgotten, the next day’s Verse of the Day is:

As you do not know the path of the wind,
or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,
so you cannot understand the work of God,
the Maker of all things. (Ecclesiastes 11:5, AFR20)

I sit and write with an arm full of baby.  I’m doing the morning shift… as usual.