Devotional & Scripture Card: Isaiah 41:13

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you." ~ Isaiah 41:13

Pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period are very unique seasons in a woman's life. As you welcome your baby into the world, there are feelings of immeasurable joy, as well as a newfound weight of responsibility. While these seasons of your life are absolutely beautiful, they can also give rise to feelings of fear and doubt. There is fear in the unknown and fear in new responsibilities. During pregnancy, there are many changes happening all at once as your prepare to welcome a new member to your family and this can be daunting. Then comes childbirth. It is so easy to become fearful of this process and doubt your ability to birth your child. Your body is responding to labor all on its own and you are along for the ride. Letting go of control in that instant can be hard! At times, being a new mother can feel rather isolating and you wonder how you are going to get through the day and still manage to fulfill the expectations that you have set for yourself in motherhood.

These are the kinds of battles that women face on a daily basis as they journey through the early seasons of motherhood. You want to know the good news? You are not alone. You have God, the strongest, most loving and steadfast partner by your side, holding your hand and saying, "do not fear; I will help you." The Lord, "who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us" (Ephesians 4:20) is right there with you through all of it.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9

And it's not just that the Lord is there to help you because He simply can, or He should, but because He loves you and He wants to. It is that perfect love of Christ that strengthens you, that empowers you and that guides you through even the most difficult times. His love is more powerful than any fear or doubt you will ever have.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. ~ John 4:18

His love is free. His love is steadfast. His love will never leave you or falter.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

One thing that I really love about God's promise to His children in this verse is that it is so personal. God is intimately involved in your life, at all times. He is not sitting high above too busy to be fully present in your life; He is right there with you holding your hand! Leading, guiding, loving, helping - that is the power of Christ in you.

There will undoubtedly be times of fear during your journey through motherhood. In those times, rather than allow that fear to consume you, look down at your hand and remember that the Lord, your God is right there holding tight and loving you deeply.

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. ~ Psalm 54:4

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