{"id":768,"date":"2023-07-12T18:14:57","date_gmt":"2023-07-12T18:14:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/?p=768"},"modified":"2023-09-20T16:44:27","modified_gmt":"2023-09-20T16:44:27","slug":"be-strong-and-courageous","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chministries.org\/blog\/be-strong-and-courageous\/","title":{"rendered":"Be strong and courageous"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The long-anticipated time is here. The work of creation God’s completing within you is nearly done. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare for your life to change forever\u2014it’s almost time to meet your child. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The long-anticipated time is here. God’s work of creation within you is nearly done. The birthing process<\/a> is beautiful, especially when you think of the end result of snuggling your sweet newborn baby<\/a>. But it’s also scary. You might ask yourself, “Will I be strong enough? Brave enough? What if something goes wrong”? <\/em>[Genesis 3:16, ESV<\/a>] promises pain in childbirth<\/a>, and it’s natural to feel fear walking into it with that knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But God didn’t give you a fearful spirit [2 Timothy 1:7,<\/a> NIV<\/a>], and He wants you to put your confidence in Him. Easier said than done, right? So how do you let go of fear and step boldly into motherhood<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Power of prayer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Never underestimate the power of prayer<\/a>. Through Jesus, you have a direct line to God, with whom you can develop a relationship, lift your praises, and bring your requests. He wants you to approach Him confidently because He wants to help you in your time of need [Hebrews 4:16, NIV<\/a>].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acts 4:23-31, NIV<\/a> provides an excellent example of how to pray when you’re scared. Peter and John were arrested for performing miracles and preaching the Gospel to the Jewish people. Faced with persecution, they prayed not for protection and safety but for courage and boldness to step out in faith, trusting that God would take care of the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you prepare for delivery<\/a>, you might be dealing with anxiety. Perhaps you’re nervous things will go wrong or scared it will be too painful. You’re not alone in those feelings, and you’re not stepping into that delivery room alone. God is with you, and God is in control<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray for courage and boldness, and trust God to take care of the rest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1 John 5:14, NIV<\/a> says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” We are not promised everything we ask for, but we are promised God hears the prayers that align with His will.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asking God for faith<\/a>, trust, and courage is within His will for us. He wants us to trust Him, and trust and faith translate into boldness. Scripture backs this up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n