JANUARY 27, 2015
"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him"
(1 Samuel 1:27)
(1 Samuel 1:27)
"Every good and perfect gift is from above"
(James 1:17)
Six years ago, on 1/27/09, Martin and I were blessed with a healthy baby boy, who has continued to bless our lives and fill our hearts with joy ever since. This post is not only to honor our son's birthday, but also to honor God for His faithfulness. Thank You, Lord, for granting me what I prayed for.
After 4 years of trying to have a baby and 2 miscarriages, Martin and I found out that we were expecting a baby. Samuel was an answer to prayer. The name Samuel means "God heard." And God sure did hear the cry of our hearts.
I was 37 years old at the time and had experienced a prior high-risk pregnancy and emergency C-section, which resulted in delivering a 3-month premature baby girl. Therefore, I was considered to be at high-risk and I was placed on bed rest during the entire pregnancy.
After 4 years of trying to have a baby and 2 miscarriages, Martin and I found out that we were expecting a baby. Samuel was an answer to prayer. The name Samuel means "God heard." And God sure did hear the cry of our hearts.
I was 37 years old at the time and had experienced a prior high-risk pregnancy and emergency C-section, which resulted in delivering a 3-month premature baby girl. Therefore, I was considered to be at high-risk and I was placed on bed rest during the entire pregnancy.
At that time, the Army had relocated us to Newport News, VA, where Martin was stationed on active duty at Ft. Eustis. Due to the demands of military life, Martin was expected to be away from home for long periods of time that year. So after giving it some thought and praying about it, we both agreed that it would be better for me to go back home to Omaha, NE, during the pregnancy and for the delivery. Another factor that contributed to our decision to go back to Nebraska during this pregnancy was the fact that when you are pregnant in the military, you don't have much of a choice on what doctor will be delivering your baby. When it’s time for the baby to be delivered, whatever doctor is “on call” that day will be the one to do the honors. I knew I would have to have another C-section and the thought of not knowing who would be delivering the baby just did not set well with me. I mean, if I have to be cut open, it would be nice to know the person who is going to do it and to feel at ease with that person and the entire process. I am just saying!!
So big-sister-to-be, Isabela, and me went back to Nebraska for the remaining 6 months of the pregnancy, which proved to be the right decision. I was able to be under the care of the same high-risk doctor who delivered Isabela; someone I trusted and who knew all my history.
My pregnancy with Samuel had a whole new set of challenges. I was placed on strict bed rest, but this time not due to premature labor, but instead due to preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. And for an active person like me, the words "bed rest" were not the words I wanted to hear. But my blood pressures were 200s/100s, so I knew I had to surrender to bed rest and rest in God’s presence.
So big-sister-to-be, Isabela, and me went back to Nebraska for the remaining 6 months of the pregnancy, which proved to be the right decision. I was able to be under the care of the same high-risk doctor who delivered Isabela; someone I trusted and who knew all my history.
My pregnancy with Samuel had a whole new set of challenges. I was placed on strict bed rest, but this time not due to premature labor, but instead due to preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. And for an active person like me, the words "bed rest" were not the words I wanted to hear. But my blood pressures were 200s/100s, so I knew I had to surrender to bed rest and rest in God’s presence.
God sure has a way to draw us to Himself and when He calls us to “be still,” He will get us to be still one way or another! "Bed rest" was God's way of saying to me, "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). He was calling me to rest in Him alone.
I have learned that when God calls me to be still, it is because He is about to do something amazing in my life. What He will do and how He will do it, I may not fully know, but He has a plan and a purpose, and it is all part of the journey. So rather than fighting it, I humbled myself and submitted to being still before the Lord.
As I was thinking and reflecting about 6-7 more months of bed rest, I knew then that the only way I was going to get through it was with God's help. So I told Him from the beginning, “my life is in Your hands.”
As I was thinking and reflecting about 6-7 more months of bed rest, I knew then that the only way I was going to get through it was with God's help. So I told Him from the beginning, “my life is in Your hands.”
God's presence and His Word were my "refuge and strength" (Psalm 46:1) during that time. My Bible was my daily companion. Now, up to that moment in time, I had read through some of the Bible but I had not read all the books in the Bible. 1 Samuel was one of the books I had not read. So one day, as I was getting ready to do some reading and not sure where to even begin, I decided to just open the Bible and start reading wherever it opened. And, yes, 1 Samuel it was! So I read the book of 1 Samuel and then moved on to other things. God, however, had a whole different plan than for me to just read it once and "move on."
I kept feeling drawn to the book of 1 Samuel. And, mind you, at this time we still had no idea if we were having a boy or a girl. Also, it is important for me to note that if it was indeed a boy, his name was going to be “Martin Alexander.” The name Samuel did not even make the list! So as I would read through the book of 1 Samuel, I was not thinking, “this is going to be our baby’s name.” I didn't think much of it. So throughout the pregnancy, I read the book of 1 Samuel several times and specific chapters and verses over and over and over again! What was happening to me? “Was it my hormones?” I wondered.
So the day came when we found out the sex of the baby. And the very moment I was told that we were having a boy, it was as if God Himself spoke to me, telling me our boys name was to be Samuel. I remember thinking, “But that name isn’t even on our list!!” Well, the rest is history. Our son’s name was going to be Samuel since before the foundation of this world.
Finally, the day we had been waiting for arrived. Samuel was not due until the end of February 2009. However, due to the preeclampsia, he had to be delivered a month earlier. Samuel was born on "1/27" and the specific verse I kept going back to in the book of 1 Samuel was "1:27."
I kept feeling drawn to the book of 1 Samuel. And, mind you, at this time we still had no idea if we were having a boy or a girl. Also, it is important for me to note that if it was indeed a boy, his name was going to be “Martin Alexander.” The name Samuel did not even make the list! So as I would read through the book of 1 Samuel, I was not thinking, “this is going to be our baby’s name.” I didn't think much of it. So throughout the pregnancy, I read the book of 1 Samuel several times and specific chapters and verses over and over and over again! What was happening to me? “Was it my hormones?” I wondered.
So the day came when we found out the sex of the baby. And the very moment I was told that we were having a boy, it was as if God Himself spoke to me, telling me our boys name was to be Samuel. I remember thinking, “But that name isn’t even on our list!!” Well, the rest is history. Our son’s name was going to be Samuel since before the foundation of this world.
Finally, the day we had been waiting for arrived. Samuel was not due until the end of February 2009. However, due to the preeclampsia, he had to be delivered a month earlier. Samuel was born on "1/27" and the specific verse I kept going back to in the book of 1 Samuel was "1:27."
What did I learn? I learned to be obedient when God calls you "to be still" even when it doesn’t make sense. I learned that when you are "still" before a Holy God, it is easier to feel His presence and to hear His voice and direction. I learned to pay attention to numbers. There is a reason why there is an entire book on Numbers in the Bible!! I learned that God will reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him (Matthew 6:33). I learned to keep my eyes on the Savior, not the storm. God does not promise smooth sailing, but He does promise a safe landing. Lastly, I learned that many books "inform" you, but only the Bible can "transform" you!!
Glorious and Heavenly Father, thank You that You never leave us nor forsake us (Joshua 1:5,9). Thank You that You have a plan for our lives; a plan to prosper us and to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Thank You for Your promise to carry that plan on to completion (Philippians 1:6). Father, please teach us and give us the wisdom, and the will, to be still and to know that You are God (Psalm 46:10). Help us to humbly go before You, with thanksgiving and a heart of worship, for every good and perfect gift You have given us. Thank You, Lord, for giving us so much more than we deserve. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
