God is a Midwife

I’m in the middle of my second week of training with GoMidwife in Bozeman, Montana and life is overflowing with the Lord’s kindness. 

For starters, this is the view I see from the living room of the basement apartment I’m renting:

Thanks, God, for the way a sunrise reminds us that each day bursts with beauty, just like Your mercy that precedes our very waking. 

Also, the family that owns the home are lovely people who literally moved a piano downstairs for me when they learned that I love to worship while playing piano.

What?! Thanks, God.

 

My days are filled with in person class held at the Bozeman Birth Center. Mornings consist of discussion-heavy lectures, while we learn practical skills in the afternoons.

The first week served as an overview of God’s heart for birth and for women. 

We learned the definition of midwife is “with women.”

Our lead instructor, Amy, reminded us that ‘catching babies’ is 1% of midwifery, and the daily role looks a lot more like time with women.

Supporting them.

In their health journeys.

In their pregnancies.

In their postpartum season.

Simply choosing to be with them and provide care for them as long as they let us.

 

Amy then invited us to remember the Name God calls Himself – Emmanuel, meaning God with us.

She said, “God is the ultimate midwife. He is present for every physical birth and every spiritual birth.”

 

Midwifery is the ministry of presence; to choose this role is to choose to serve with intense and intentional presence, very much like how our Father relates to us.

Supports us.

In our physical journeys.

In our times of expectation and celebration.

In our times of disappointment.

In our seasons of healing and growth.

 

And every moment in between. 

 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear…” Psalm 46:1-2a

 

How are you currently experiencing God as Emmanuel (as your midwife 🙂 )?