“I asked God to stop me if aborting wasn’t his will for my life. When he didn’t, I felt it was okay. Why didn’t he stop me, Sydna?” the post-abortive woman asked.
Many faith-based hearts prayed before they aborted, asking for God to intervene if it wasn’t his will for them to abort. These ambiguous prayers are often answered, just not in the way we expect.
This woman remembered struggling to find a parking spot near the abortion clinic. She initially thought God was trying to stop her. Then someone pulled out of their spot. “I felt that was God’s sign saying abortion was okay,” she concluded.
While the actual word “abortion” does not appear in the Bible, Jesus spoke about the beauty of children in Matthew 19: 13-14:
Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
In discovering my pregnancy in a Planned Parenthood clinic in 1981, I too prayed for God’s direction. I was so steeped in sin by that point, I could not discern any particular response. Opening a Bible was not in my mindset either.
When I entered my Indianapolis abortion clinic, I felt I had an angel on one shoulder speaking into my right ear, and another darker perspective addressing my left. The messages were quite different.
Part of me felt the urge to flee. Another part of my heart replayed the typical “abortion logic”–this was a safe and legal choice for teenagers in my position. The “logical” voice won out.
My boyfriend’s “enforcement” perspective on this choice was replayed upon entering the parking lot. If I came out still pregnant, he would leave me homeless on the streets. Even with his threat, a huge part of my heart knew I was headed for extreme regret if I went through with it.
In that moment of extreme confusion, stress and uncertainty, it was difficult to discern God’s perspective. While I had never heard anyone speak against abortion, my heart belonged to the Creator of the Universe. I knew God loved children.
Had I the courage to flee that scene, I’m confident my heavenly Father would have had help waiting around the corner. In many cities, that help is offered through pregnancy center ministries.
Playing these type of “sign” games with God can be quite confusing in considering abortion. Few understand that God has already outlined his perspective on abortion in Deuteronomy 30:19–I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
Anger towards God for not physically stopping our abortion is common in the eventual realization of abortion’s impact on our lives. It is a human tendency to hold God accountable for the choices we make. But the Scripture above outlines that God does not support abortion in any situation.
It very well could be that God did send people into your life or cause situations to get your attention. Perhaps we simply didn’t recognize the help as coming from God.
One woman outlined that she prayed for God’s direction. The next day, she drove past numerous billboards that outlined basic pro-life messages like, “Abortion stops a beating heart.” These billboards did not sound like God’s answer to her prayer. Her expectations about God giving her a literal “sign” simply wasn’t enough to dissuade her.
God gave us the gift of having a free will. By our Creator’s very nature, he does not demand we do things his way, even though it is the best way. God lets us go our own way to make our own choices. Thankfully, he also wants to heal our hearts from all our sins.
Romans 6:23 outlines this truth–For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. God wants every post-abortive person to know that he loves and forgives no matter what our sin. He speaks to our hearts. The problem is that we often simply don’t recognize his voice.
If you are angry at God for not stopping you from aborting, realize that he gave you free choice. Beginning to heal can be as easy as a humble prayer, asking for God’s help in understanding your pain.
Reading the Bible daily can help anyone hear God’s voice in a deeper way. Our Creator wants us to come home to his love, acceptance and forgiveness. Obtaining a copy of Her Choice to Heal: Finding Spiritual and Emotional Peace After Abortion can help begin a new relationship between you and the Creator of the Universe.
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- #MeToo and Abortion Pain - June 26, 2018
- The Irish Abortion Vote - May 23, 2018
- The Health Benefits of Tears after Abortion - April 27, 2018
