Since last month’s historic announcement of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, our country (and the world) has been in a flurry of intense emotions as some rejoice with the joy of answered prayer and others cry out in fear and despair. There have been celebrations as well as protests in the streets while the news continues to share nearly constant coverage of why they are for or against the decision. Social media has been filled with praise, arguments, joy, and online debates. It is an historic time indeed.
Men and women have been working hard and praying for decades for this day. The day is here, praise God! He is good and faithful to answer prayer! And we know, as women who love God and the life He creates, the hard work is far from over. A new generation of children is coming, a culture war is raging, and we are called to navigate this world in a manner that glorifies Christ.
Walking in our turbulent culture takes courage and a reliance on the Spirit. How can we trust God as we navigate these culture wars? What are some ways, as Christian women, that we can live for Him in a culture that rejects Him?
We can rejoice.
We can love.
We can prepare.
We Can Rejoice
“[Love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth…”
1 Corinthians 13:6
As I’ve watched the media and people in our culture react strongly and negatively to the overturning of Roe v Wade, it has been easy for me to want to hide and keep quiet about being joyful in this season of our nation’s history. But as Christians who know God and hold His Word to be true, this moment in history is cause for rejoicing! The Bible clearly tells us that children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3), that man and woman were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27), that God intimately knows and knits together babies in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139), and that to shed the blood of man is in direct opposition to how we are to live (Exodus 20:13, Genesis 9:6). Although our nation, judges, and politicians may not be Christian, we can ,and should, rejoice in answered prayer and that God’s truth is good, absolute, and always true no matter how people and culture may feel about it.
“Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16
“I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts and regard Your ways.
I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.”
Psalm 119:14-16
Rejoicing at something the world is angry about can be uncomfortable and a little scary. To rejoice in God’s truth and to walk in His statutes will cause us to be hated by the world. As we rejoice that children are being given the opportunity to live, we will be disdained. 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us “the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” For those who do not know Christ, rejoicing in the overturning of Roe v Wade is foolish. To rejoice in God’s truth despite what friends on social media say means you will be hated. You will lose friends. You will be canceled and silenced. People will leave mean comments and send hurtful messages. People who do not know God will tell you that you hate women, and even some who do claim to know God will tell you likewise.
This is not new or unique to our time in history, and Jesus even tells us in John 15:18-19:
“If the world hates you,
you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own;
but because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world,
because of this the world hates you.”
Jesus is the truth (John 14:6) and was hated. For us to rejoice in God’s truth means we too will be hated by the world. But we can have peace and courage even amidst the hurtful words that will be thrown toward us:
“In the world you have tribulation,
but take courage;
I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Let us ask the Spirit to help us take courage, and bravely rejoice that God answers prayer and is alone the author of life. Even when you feel the world is against you, rejoice in the truth of God’s Word and rejoice that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:38-39).
“Rejoice in the Lord alway; again I will say, rejoice!”
Philippians 4:4
The Heart of Rejoicing
There are many in our country who do claim to love and follow Christ, yet have found it hard to rejoice at the overturning of Roe v Wade due to a plethora of fears, anxious thoughts, and what if’s. Bear with me, I will touch on this later, but if you do find it hard to rejoice, take time to read through the passages mentioned above. Read through God’s Word and see how deeply He loves those He has created. Ask Him to help you love His truth and to not be driven to and fro by feelings, emotions, and the teachings of the world.
As we rejoice, let us also take time to examine our own hearts and our motivation for rejoicing. Many Christians are rejoicing right now, but posts and comments on social media suggest perhaps their reason for rejoicing is more about winning a cultural argument than rejoicing in God’s provision and truth. May we rejoice in the truth of God’s Word and His provision to save lives, not in being “right” or on the winning side of a debate. It’s an easy mindset to fall into, but we have to be careful that we are not gloating, as if we naturally know right and wrong outside of God opening our eyes and hearts.
I have seen a witty, viral social media post rapidly spreading among Christian influencers that says :“Can you imagine if you were upset because babies get to live?”
We should be very careful about words like these.
Can I imagine being upset because babies get to live?
Yes, I can imagine this.
I can imagine being upset about babies getting to live because I know, apart from Christ, I too would be just like the culture around me. Without Christ and His Word, there is no reason for me to value life. The love for life and viewing children as a blessing is not something I discovered on my own, but something that only Christ can cause my heart to see. When I see posts like this, I have to remind myself of the truth of Ephesians 2:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air,
of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh,
indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind,
and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”
Ephesians 2:1-3
I did not come to value life and God’s truth because I am somehow morally superior or a better person than the culture around me. I value life and God’s truth because He alone has revealed it to me-a sinner- and has made me alive in Christ:
“But God, being rich in mercy,
because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions,
made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved)”
Ephesians 2:4-5
As we navigate these turbulent cultural waters, we can rejoice with a heart of humility and thankfulness for God’s work in our own lives and in His work in the world around us. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love “does not brag and is not arrogant” but “rejoices with the truth.” We are rejoicing in God’s truth and boasting in Christ alone (Psalm 32:11). We cannot brag or be arrogant in our words, conversations, comments, and social media posts. May we instead love and have compassion on those in our culture who do not truly know God and are genuinely scared, and not just view them as being the defeated team.
We Can Love
“Be anxious for nothing,
but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God,
which supasses all comprehension,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
This is a verse that is well known within Christianity, and it is a truth I am so thankful for! When we know and love God, we can have peace from anxiety and fear! But in our culture right now, there are women who do not know God and are fearful of what the overturning of Roe v Wade will mean for their lives. They don’t know that they can surrender their anxiety and fears to Him, and they don’t know that God’s Word says children are a heritage from Him. They are terrified of the what-if’s and frightening scenarios they are hearing about online and on the news. They are being told that pregnancy will most certainly kill them and that their babies will most definitely live horrible lives. They are anxious that IVF and fertility treatments may no longer be an option for them as they try to start their family (many of these treatments abort several babies if there is more than one child). They are facing the reality that an unplanned pregnancy they once viewed as simply “optional” may now mean giving up their career aspirations, losing their slender figure, living life as a single mom, or needing to find ways to financially support a little one. It may be hard to imagine having some of these thoughts, but these are real fears for many women.
Even for those who do know the Lord, fighting anxious thoughts and trusting Him can be challenging. But for those who do not know the love of God, how easy it is for them to be overtaken by anxiety and fear. How easy it is for them to lose hope because the things they find hope in so quickly and easily change. A change in a court decision does not mean the hearts of people have likewise been changed.
Without Christ, there is no hope.
Without Christ, there is no life.
We can love by having compassion on those who are scared, and share with them the one place where they can find unwavering, unchanging, and eternal life and hope. We know that valuing life does not end with the overturning of a court case. As we share the Gospel with those who do not know Him and are scared, may He allow us to see many people come to know a life with Christ that has eternal peace and glory!
For Those Who Are Angry and Afraid
“And we know that
God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28
If I could share one thing with women who do not know the Lord and are angry and afraid right now, I would share with them that God is sovereign and provides for those who love and worship Him.
For women who do not know the Lord and are deeply angry about the overturning of Roe v Wade, the idea that God is sovereign and works all things for good (to those who love Him) may simply sound like a soft platitude or a phrase that looks nice on a throw pillow.
But I have seen God provide in incredible ways that I can’t explain! If you know and love God, I know that you have seen Him provide in your life as well! Physically, emotionally, spiritually, financially…I could list story after story detailing the work of God in my life and the multitude of ways He has shown His love and care for me. Because of God, I am strengthened to face the frightening what-if’s in life with peace knowing that He is in control. Because of God, I have seen the blessing that children are and the glory of motherhood even when the world insists otherwise. What good news that He offers peace to those who know and love Him!
Are you afraid for your future as a woman?
Surrender your life to the One who made you and the only One who truly has control, and He will give you courage and peace to face the unknown. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Do you seek peace from the persistent “what-if’s” of the future of fertility treatments?
Come to the One who gives rest and peace even in life’s struggles and trials. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Do you seek freedom from anxiety of not being able to provide for a child?
Come to the One who knows and loves you, your children, and your future children, and He will care for you. (Psalm 37:25, Matthew 7:25-34)
Are you afraid of death?
Surrender your life to the One who gives eternal life. (John 10:25-30)
As we repent of our own sin and turn to God, we can love, come alongside, and encourage other women to do the same.
We Can Prepare
In 9(ish!) months, we will begin meeting the first fruits of a new generation. Hundreds of thousands of people who would have died will now instead be given the opportunity to live! These are our children’s future classmates, friends, and co-workers. We can begin preparing now to share the hope of Christ with a generation of children who will be told they are unwanted. That they are mistakes. That their parents and culture wish they hadn’t been born. This new generation (like every generation!) will need to hear the Gospel and the Good News of eternal life in Christ. Because a life without Christ still ends in death.
We can be thinking now of the ways we can meet the needs of this new generation in so many facets of life:
-We can lift up motherhood in our words and actions as the culture around us continues to paint it as a negative and unfortunate circumstance. Having a joy about motherhood can help show women the gift and blessing that motherhood truly is, even with the sacrifice and challenges that come with it.
-We can help our children to love their future peers by training our toddlers to share and speak encouragement, leading our children to stand firm in God’s Word, and teaching our teenagers to trust the Spirit for joy.
-We can build up the children in our churches by spending time with them and teaching them how to walk with God.
There are many things in this season of history to rejoice in and be thankful for! And as I continue to love life, children, and God, I know I will need to continue trusting Him for courage and peace in a world that is against life. I am asking God to help me be humble, brave, and firmly planted in His truth, and I pray you will continue to as well!
May we continue to love life and prepare to show the love of Christ to a new generation.
In love,
Jackie
