The Wonder Within

Editor’s note: Are you pregnant? Or waiting for a grandchild?  Praise the Lord! What a wonderful time! During this season of growth, you can also grow spiritually! Turn to God, worship Him for the beautiful things He’s doing in your life, and pray for the new little one on the way! We hope you enjoy this excerpt from the devotional journal Waiting in Wonder.

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Congratulations! You have completed your second trimester and the finish line is firmly in sight. You’ve made it through the trials of morning sickness and aversions to food and smells. You’ve shared the news with friends and likely seen your little wonder through the miracle of ultrasound. But there’s still the most important part of the race to come. For many, the third trimester is the hardest. As you and Baby continue to grow, so does your discomfort. Night wakings, backaches, heartburn, fears about labor: the last few miles can be the hardest. You need grace to finish well.

In Hebrews 11 the author pointed out those who finished well because they finished full of faith. They were people who, like Abraham, did not receive the fullness of the promises God had made to them in their lifetime, but could look to their faithful God to fulfill His Word within the realm of eternity (Hebrews 11:13, 16). Faith looks forward with a trust based firmly in the character of God.

As you enter into the last leg of this pregnancy journey, look forward with faith and remember the character of your faithful God. Not only will He help you run the larger race of your Christian journey, He will also help you finish this pregnancy well as you look to Him for strength and grace.

List some of the attributes of God. As you reflect on who He is, how does it increase your faith and your ability to trust Him for the unseen?

What have been some of the highlights of your pregnancy journey so far? Praise God for these moments and ask Him for His grace and help to finish well.

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You made it to your final trimester! You and your little one have both come a long way. Remember that poppy seed–sized wonder you began getting to know when you found out you were pregnant? Well, now he or she weighs about 2.22 pounds and is somewhere between 13.6 and 14.8 inches long (still about the length of a head of romaine lettuce)! This week your baby’s sleep patterns begin following circadian rhythms. That means you will notice more regular patterns of sleep. When your little one’s eyes are open, he or she may be practicing blinking now. And if you could peer within the womb you’d see that those eyes now have a pigment — though they may still change color in the months to come (eyes don’t assume their permanent shade until about nine months after birth).

You’ve come a long way too, Mama! You’ve gone from hardly showing to looking like a pumpkin smuggler. The average woman has gained between 18 and 25 pounds by now and will gain about 11 pounds in her final trimester. Your weight gain needs may be above or below these numbers depending on your starting weight and BMI (body mass index). As the final trimester gets started, fix your eyes firmly on Christ to see you through the discomforts and labor ahead. But also remember the miracle of the growing life within you. Holding this sweet little one in your arms will make every discomfort you’ve borne so worth it.

POINTS FOR PRAYER AND PRAISE

Praise God for helping you reach the third and final trimester of your pregnancy.

Pray for your little one to continue thriving and to continue letting you know through daily kick (or fetal movement) counts (something your health-care provider will likely advise you to do in the coming months). Also pray that as your little one grows, he or she may thrive spiritually, knowing the abundant life that is only available through Christ.

Pray for yourself as you undergo the glucose screening test, most likely sometime this week. Pray for a healthy report if it is the Lord’s will.

MOMMY’S MEMORY VERSE

Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. — Hebrews 12:1

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Excerpted with permission from Waiting in Wonder by Catherine Claire Larson, copyright Catherine Claire Larson.

Your Turn

Just a little while to go! We are excited for you! God has a wonderful season ahead for you. Praise Him! ~ Laurie McClure, Faith.Full