The Heavenly Father Who Provided For Mary Still Cares Today, by Kay Warner.

With Christmas coming quickly upon us and everyone focusing on the birth of our saviour Jesus, I cannot help but think of the most important person in the story, Mary – a young girl promised to be married then suddenly having her whole world turned upside down.

Everyone knows how Gabriel came to Mary and told her “Do not be afraid, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son.” Now its all good and well Gabriel telling her do not be afraid, but I think we all would be in that situation. I know I was when a similar thing happened to me.

In early 2007, about 6 months after the birth of my second child, I awoke one morning after dreaming I was pregnant again. At first, I dismissed this but as the morning went on, I heard a very clear male voice telling me it was true and to take a test if I didn’t believe him. Now at this point I was full of mixed emotions. I had no other reason to suspect I was expecting another child. I questioned if I was going mad! After all, I did hear a voice. I was scared. It was too soon to have another child. Could we afford it? how was my husband going to take the news if it was true?

Eventually, I did take that test and it was positive. I spent the rest of the day feeling really worried about telling my husband. Thankfully, he was happy with the news, although shocked.

I often think Mary must have felt like me during those first few hours. She had much more to worry about than me. Deep down I knew my husband would support me. After all, we had 2 other children. Mary was clearly confused. She was still a virgin. She would also have been scared Joseph would leave her and she would become an outcast. Or worse, be stoned. God did not leave her though. His angel reassured her that this was God’s will, the same as he reassured me a few weeks after finding out I was pregnant.

When I was around 7 weeks pregnant, I suddenly experienced a lot of bleeding, but because I was so early in the pregnancy, the hospital refused to scan me. I prayed for a week solid that everything was ok. I was terrified and upset, but God comforted me, and come my 12 weeks scan I saw a perfectly healthy 16-week-old baby. My prayers had been answered.

When I look back on that time in my life, I am reminded of the long journey Mary made to Bethlehem. How scared she must have been to travel that far so close to the birth of her child. To be so far away from her home and her family. To finally reach their destination only to find there was no room for them in any of the inns. Yet again God had a plan though. He made sure they were safe, just as he did for my baby.

My next encounter with God being there with me happened on Oct 2nd, 2007, the day my little girl was born. I had had a normal day, had my haircut and spent time with my friend, and no sign of baby except the odd twinge which I had been getting for weeks. Within an hour of my friend leaving I was in labour, so I told my husband to come home. Thinking I had plenty of time I decided to get in the bath and asked my husband to call the midwife as I had planned a homebirth. All was fine, but this child was impatient to enter the world. That’s when the fear kicked in. There I was stuck in the bath, in labour and on my own. My husband was looking after the other children and desperately waiting for my mum to turn up to help. Once again, I prayed. I don’t think I have ever prayed so hard as I did then. Whilst I was praying, I heard a voice telling me everything would be ok, but I was scared and ignored it. When I finally thought I would have to do this alone, my mum appeared, just in time to deliver her granddaughter. I have never been so thankful to have a prayer answered so quickly. God had provided the help I needed when I needed it most. My daughter was born safely and healthy.

We know very little of who was there for Mary during her labour. Chances are there was either a local midwife or women in the family to help, but as anyone who has ever had a child knows it can be frightening. To do it alone even more so. But God will be there to help you if you let him in. He was there for Mary. He was most definitely there for me, and he will always be there for you.

The bible tells us many times not to fear, and yes, it is hard, but if we look to God and listen for His voice, the darkness of fear will be overcome. All it takes is a little trust.