Quiverfull is characterized as a “movement,” a response of the extremely conservative to feminism and modern birth control. It is not mainstream. Some people may even believe that it borders on being a cult.
Is that true? Let’s think about this.
Quiverfull is indeed a movement in response to feminism and modern birth control. It follows the counter-cultural idea that we should let God be in control of how many children we have, which is spoken of symbolically in the Bible as filling our quiver with arrows (Psalm 127:3-5.) Christians have historically believed in the blessing of children, but changes in our modern society have forced us to reconsider where we stand on this issue. Things happen in the world; Christians respond. Sometimes they respond with acceptance, when those things are good; sometimes they respond with rejection, when those things are bad. Not all Christians feel the same way about things, so the response will be varied. My point is that it’s not bad to be a “movement”; that’s just a descriptive term to describe what’s happening.
Quiverfull is not mainstream. Yes, that’s true. The current mainstream way of living is to use birth control and limit family size. This facilitates the wife working outside the home, for without birth control this would be almost impossible. One hundred years ago, most wives stayed at home; their biology made this the most common sense thing to do (though some worked in factories or did other sorts of jobs, but this was very hard on them and the family). But now, birth control has “liberated” women to be able to leave the home. Using birth control has come to be seen as good, a virtue, as being responsible and a good steward. Anyone who goes against that popular idea is “out of the ordinary.” Sad, isn’t it?
Why sad? Well, let’s get to the next point, and you’ll see why. Is Quiverfull a cult? The answer is, No. Not that it isn’t possible that some cults have held this idea; however, the concept of a surrendered womb is not contradictory to the Bible.
For many years prior to the advent of modern birth control (spearheaded by Planned Parenthood founder, Margaret Sanger), families did not generally try to take control of this area, but they let happen what would happen. Early Christian leaders condemned it as a crime. Birth control was actually illegal in the USA for some years, because of the Comstock laws (1873-1972):
“. . . every written or printed card, letter, circular, book, pamphlet advertisement, or notice of any kind giving information directly or indirectly . . . how or by what means conception may be prevented . . . Whoever shall knowingly deposit or cause to be deposited for mailing or delivery, anything declared by this section to be non-mailable, or shall knowingly take, or cause the same to be taken, from the mails for the purpose of circulating or disposing thereof, or of aiding in the circulation or disposition thereof, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.”
“Twenty-three States make it a crime to publish or advertise contraceptive information. They are as follows: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming; also Puerto Rico.
“Twenty-two States include in their prohibition drugs and instruments for the prevention of conception. . . . They are as follows: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming and Puerto Rico.
“Eleven States make it a crime to have in one’s possession any instruction for contraception. These are: Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wyoming.
“Fourteen States make it a crime to tell anyone where or how contraceptive knowledge may be acquired. These are : Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Wyoming.
“Six States prohibit the offer to assist in any method whatever which would lead to knowledge by which contraception might be accomplished. These are: Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma and Puerto Rico.
“Eight States prohibit depositing in the Post Office any contraceptive information. These are: Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Wyoming.
“One State, Colorado, prohibits the bringing into the State of any contraceptive knowledge.
“Four States have laws authorizing the search for and seizure of contraceptive instructions, and these are: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Oklahoma. In all these States but Idaho, the laws authorize the destruction of the things seized.”
So, mainstream American culture used to NOT use birth control very widely, and then it twisted around in the other direction, against years of church tradition and practice:
“Throughout history, Christianity has been openly opposed to contraceptives, with many religious leaders in the past thoroughly demonizing the use of contraceptives, despite the practice being used in the Mediterranean area since before the common era. The first recorded show of the Christian faith being against contraceptives is in the Didache, an early Christian treatise written around 70 AD which condemns the use of contraception along with abortion, infanticide, adultery, and other sins. This theme of Christian culture continued through the centuries until some churches accepted the use of contraceptives, limited at first, which started at the Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church in 1930.”
[All quotations above are from Wikpedia’s article on the Comstock laws.]
Though there has been debate on whether “contraception” includes avoiding sex during the woman’s fertile phase, as in Natural Family Planning (the Catholic church accepts NFP, but differentiates this method from all other forms of pregnancy-prevention, which are called “artifical contraception”), the point I want to make is this: For the married Christian couple, having children has historically been seen as a normal thing. It’s part of what marriage is about. People used to understand this more than they do now, until our culture became “brainwashed” by those with a liberal agenda.
Quiverfull is a lifestyle of surrendering our power of fertility, our life-generating potential, to God’s will, to allow Him to “fill our quiver” with the “arrows” of children:
“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.” Psalm 127:3-5
How is it bad to allow God to control the womb? I’d like to set forth a few reasons why it is not bad, not cultish, but completely normal and in line with the Bible’s teaching:
- This is the way God originally made our bodies to function, which He called “very good” (Genesis 1:31). This is how He designed us. It is not bad to allow our bodies to do what God created them to do, within marriage.
- This is what God told us to do, by explicit command (Genesis 1:28). How does anyone have the right to tell us we are wrong to obey God’s command? How dare they take that authority into their hands to contradict God? How dare they even suggest it is okay to question that command? This sounds to me like a replay of what Satan said to Eve in Genesis 3:1, “Did God really say?”
- This is an acceptance of life, which God says to choose (Deut. 30:19). Human life comes from God (Acts 17:25), and new human life, made in the image of God Himself, is not ever called “bad” by God. In fact, God values human life very much. He loves humans! Why would He ever tell us to barricade their entrance? I’ve never seen a single example of God commanding us to use birth control in Scripture. All pregnancy-prevention is actually people-prevention. Every one of us was a baby once; then we grew up. Someone accepted us and cared for us; someone thought we were worth it, and we are! Every new life, even the possibility of new life, is beautiful!
- Jesus would never say that it is wrong to accept children. He taught us to receive them (Mark 9:36-37). How can we be consistent in following Jesus’ example if we accept some children while rejecting the possibility of others? The disciples pushed babies and children away because they thought they would interfere with Jesus’ work (Mark 10:13-16). What was Jesus’ reponse? “LET the little children come!” He didn’t push them away; instead, He saw them as a vital part of His ministry.
- This is a gift unlike any other of God’s gifts: these are eternal human beings. We may have the right to exercise our stewardship when it comes to other sorts of gifts, but when it comes to another person’s human destiny, aren’t we playing god when we decide who to allow to come into being, and who not to? This is not a responsibility that has been given to us: life and death are in God’s hands (Deut. 32:39). Yes, He has given judges the authority to punish criminals with capital punishment, but when did He ever give us the authority to block new human life through birth control?
- History is on the side of Quiverfull. This extensive use of birth control is new, for the church. Though people have used different forms of birth control throughout history, when has there ever been a time when it was so greatly accepted by Christians? Not until now. That should give us pause.
Though Quiverfull is certainly a movement, it is not really a new idea, but an old one that has been revived in response to modern birth control. It is not a cult, but a way of life that is consistent with the Bible’s teaching.
It isn’t really “trying to have as many children as you can,” but trusting in God’s wisdom to give you the amount of children He wants you to have, at the time He decides is best, whether that be a lot of children or only a few. It’s seeing more children as good–an even greater blessing. The married couple isn’t obsessed with becoming pregnant as soon as possible after each new baby. They simply follow the natural rhythm of life and accept what happens as a matter of course.
In my opinion, any Christian family that calls itself “Quiverfull” but rushes into the next pregnancy as soon as possible isn’t really following a biblical mindset. Psalm 127:3-5 says that “children are an heritage of [from] the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Children are from God, and we should be content with whatever He chooses to give us. That is a more accurate understanding of what it means to be a Quiverfull family.
Popular Christian teachers who believe birth control is okay are not being true to the Bible in this area. As Jesus said of the Pharisees, “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach“ (Matt. 23:1-3).
These Christian teachers say, “Trust God, for He is trustworthy.” But if they were honest with us and with themselves, they would add, “Except in the area of having children; God can’t be trusted with that. Fix it yourself.”
They say, “Children are gifts and blessings from God.” But if they were honest with us and with themselves, they would add, “Except in the case of conceiving more babies than you want. That won’t be a blessing. They will get in the way of your plans, your health, your ministry. Avoid that ‘blessing’ if you can.”
They say, “No one is an accident; every life has purpose.” But if they were honest with us and with themselves, they would add, “Except babies you have predetermined do not fit YOUR life’s purpose. If you decide that having a new child would not be wise, then whatever purpose that child’s life might have had in God’s plan is now subject to your opinion of how that child would get in the way of YOUR purpose. Your life’s purpose trumps his or hers. You are not an accident, but use birth control, because if you conceive a new baby, that could be an accident that could get in the way of your service for God.”
How mistaken.
Yet, what should be our response? To be mad at them? No. We must be patient. We must pray for them. If they are in a position of leadership, we must respect them. It is my belief that many of them, however blind, are still our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are experiencing a temporary blindness in this area, most likely because they have chosen, or chose, to use birth control in their own, private lives, and they want to justify that action before others. We must continue to joyfully surrender ourselves to God’s will for us, though we may not understand the whole of what that is. We are living testimonies of grace, the grace of life God gives to Christian couples (1 Pet. 3:7). Let God back that testimony with the strength of His approval in whatever way He sees fit.
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life . . .” Deut. 30:19
***
- Before reading this article, had you known that birth control used to be illegal in the USA? How does that knowledge change your view of birth control?
- Have you ever experienced criticism for having a large family? How have you learned to deal with it in a godly way?
- In what way did God open your eyes and heart to His design for the family (specifically, Quiverfull)? Could you share that story with us?
Ladies, I am so excited to receive your responses! I think your comments will be a powerful and encouraging support to many!
~Jessica
Hi Jessica, this was another wonderful article, and you gave the premise of it based on the Scriptures. So, in bringing up my question, first, I would like to say, I am in agreement with your thoughts overall that God’s desire is for women to be fruitful and to multiply. Children are blessings from the Lord and the fruit of the womb is His reward. I know I don’t fit the typical woman reading your blog because I am in my 40s, never married, working, and with no children. I would have loved to have been married and to bear children… But I am learning to find value as a redeemed child of God, not as a wife or mother of children. Even as wonderful as a role of wife and mother is, I know from personal experience, that sometimes, God says no…What would be your encouragement to a couple that is having difficulty conceiving? Or like me, an older, single woman, who still desires to live a godly life and to honor the Lord in all things…even being childless. Along with going to the Lord in prayer, should IVF, other medical procedures, adoption, etc be sought, or would acceptance become okay at a certain point? We do live in a fallen world, and because of sin, sometimes lives do not evolve seamlessly….But, God’s character never changes. And in light of all these good gifts, they are still for this life only…even marriage will not be for all of Eternity. I know that criticism can be harsh for couples with large families, but there is also a stigma and pain of having no children…If there is only “Quiverfull” there would
be no hope for me and other childless women. A cousin of mine says that to not have children is a “curse from God”. What is not a blessing, is a curse…her thoughts… What are your thoughts?
Hi, Kim!
Thanks for your comment, which has helped to balance out this conversation on the topic of Quiverfull! There is only so much I can squeeze into one post, but you have given me some ideas for future posts!
What are my thoughts on the issue you brought up? Several things.
1. Barrenness is sometimes a curse. Yes, I believe that is true. It’s all throughout the Bible. I don’t think it was just the “cultural mindset of the time,” but is one way God sometimes deals with disobedient people. Many times in the Psalms, God says He will cut off the descendants of the wicked. Some people bring the curse of barrenness upon themselves through their own poor or rebellious choices (sterilization, chemicals, homosexuality, etc.).
2. Barrenness is not always a curse. There were several barren couples in the Bible (at least they were barren until God gave them children): Abraham and Sarah, Elkanah and Hannah (Samuel’s parents), Manoah and his wife (Samson’s parents), Zacharias and Elizabeth (John the Baptist’s parents), for example. God doesn’t say they were sinful (any more than common). He had His own reasons for withholding the gift of children from them, for a time.
3. Some good people in the Bible were single. John the Baptist, Jesus, and Paul, for example. Jesus was perfectly fulfilled while being single. That shows we don’t necessarily have to be married to live out God’s purpose for our life.
4. However, though singleness is for some, it is not for most. Marriage is God’s will for most people:
-In Genesis, God made Eve for Adam because it was “not good for man to be alone.” He needed a suitable companion / help meet.
-In 1 Tim. 5:14, young women are told to “marry, bear children, and manage the house.”
-Hebrews 13:4 says that “marriage is honorable among all.”
-And getting back to Quiverfull, children are clearly spoken of as a blessing in the Bible, many, many times, though we may not always deserve that blessing. God sometimes gives bad people children out of His love and mercy; Jesus said that “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matt. 5:45).
5. If someone is having trouble conceiving, I think they should first of all examine their life for sin, since sometimes that can be a hidden issue blocking us from receiving God’s blessings. Next, they should examine their health choices. If the woman has used the birth control pill for many years, for example, her hormones may have gotten so out of whack that they will take time to get back to normal after she gets off the pill. There are many environmental things that can affect our ability to conceive. I would always keep to natural solutions. Some procedures do more damage than good. IVF, for example, is something I would NEVER condone, since it kills new babies and is completely against God’s design. Having a surrendered womb means we trust God to give us children, no matter if that is many children, a few, one, or none. We put our lives into His hands.
So, if I could summarize my response, I would say that there is *Balance* when dealing with this issue. Paul said that he had learned to be content in whatever state he was (Phil. 4:11). I think that whether married or single, with children or without, we can learn to be content and seek to live out God’s will for our lives. Single women have many opportunites that married women do not (1 Cor. 7:34).
I think it’s interesting that you say there’s a stigma regarding unmarried women with no children. It’s ironic that in a culture which glorifies singleness, women who don’t have children feel Less as women. It’s one thing to choose to not get married or have children; it’s another to have it forced upon you by life. It’s a trial of a different sort, you’re right. Thank you for reminding us of this. It’s important to not forget this.
Very gratefully,
~Jessica
Jessica, thanks so much for your thoughts. Praise God for godly women, as yourself! If the church and the family, were sold out to the Scriptures, and truly living out the Scriptures, generations of godly women and men would fill out land. Thank you for giving me more more insight. It goes against our current mindsets, but barrenness could indeed be a curse. I often debated my cousin, but it could be so. By God’s Grace, I have repented of my own sinful past, and walk this born -again path with Christ. May the Lord continue to make His face to shine on you and your family, Jessica. Sincerely,
Kim
One more thought, I don’t think that most people desire to be single…particularly women…I think the culture may not prioritize marriage, (at least biblical marriage), but the world does indeed want to be “in love.” And now, I see the trends, even with celebrities, who love relationships, “baby bumps”, and cute kids. There are many reasons a person may be single. Trust me on this one! 😌 If one wants to be just married, that’s certainly not impossible…I could have definitely been….the difficulty is marrying “in the Lord…”
Kim, thank you so much for your gracious and helpful responses! You have given us a lot of food for thought!
~Jessica
Another great post!
The only place I have a different understanding is that there really is an arm of the “movement” that does try to have as many children as possible – by early weaning and using medical intervention. My experience is that these people are in the “dominionism” camp – which I consider different from those of us who just believe, without any political or cultural agenda, that God has the authority and privilege to rule every area of my life.
Of course, If we truly believe that every child is precious and that God is sovereign over our bodies, then I don’t believe we try to have as many children as possible but, rather, rejoice in, and embrace, every child He gives us. I think that’s the difference in truly submitting to God’s claim on our lives and still trying to control our own wombs.
We are a relatively small family (6 children) for those believing that God controls the womb because we came to it later in marriage. Our youngest child was born when I was 42 – her younger brother returned to the Lord in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and, to our knowledge, we haven’t conceived since.
What little grief we’ve received about our family size has actually come from Christians, which just floors me.
For us, the discovery came like so many others: as we studied God’s Word on our own at home (read: we’ve never heard this in any church we worshiped in), it was just a common sense application of submitting your whole life to God. How arrogant of us to spend time discussing whether we should have another child or not. That is God’s prerogative, not ours.
Again, a great post. What would this world be like if every Christian truly submitted his or her life to their professed King?!
Thanks, SBS!
I was so very encouraged to read that you and your husband came to understand that surrendering our fertility to God is reasonable, through simply reading the Bible! God’s Word is powerful, if we let it do it’s work in our hearts! I’m so happy to hear that God has given you six wonderful children!
Yes, I agree with your assessment, that an understanding of “quiverfull” which includes trying to get the wife pregnant as soon as possible isn’t really biblical. Biblically, we simply surrender control and don’t try to force the issue one way or another. I do think that children are given to us for a reason, and that reason may have something to do with reaching a lost culture for God. After all, they are “arrows.” But, I think there is a difference between having our own agenda, and trusting in God’s. You made some very good points, there!
~Jessica
Hi Jessica
Thank you for a very thoughtful post.
I would separate the ‘cult’ question first:
Some things I have read about – only a few – of the quiverfull believers have rather concerned me. I guess that whenever there is a belief that is very strongly held, there is a risk of a cult developing.
But on ‘theory’ of a quiverfull commitment – I agree with it. Once we gave up artifical contraception, and then moved to NFP, the next step came naturally, and we moved on to believing the 3 natural states of a married women were conceiving, being pregnant, and breastfeeding. And this natural cycle anyway tended (not always for sure) but tended to space out children without any devices / chemicals or NFP charting. I now have six children and feel I can speak from experience.
To return on a personal level to the quiverfull ‘dangers’, my DH did eventually become involved in a very fundamentlist group and moved towards insistence on pregnancy as soon as possible, to the level of stopping my breastfeeding earlier than I wanted to allow for another pregnancy. That was not my view and caused conflicts,
So yes there are dangers, but that is down to individual faiiings not the wonderful commitment to place your family size in the hands of the almighty.
Dear Jean,
I am so thankful that God brought you and your husband to the understanding that having children is a natural part of marriage; how wonderful that you have six precious children! I think you’re right, that quiverfull can be taken to an extreme; but, the idea of surrendering this area to God is in itself biblical. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, and for warning us against extremism, which I think you are correct about.
~Jessica
Speaking as a Catholic I am glad that our Church retains it original and Biblical conviction that birth control through contraception fundamentally sinful however I do believe that it is wholly wrong to encourage and legitimise NFP. It does this by jumping through all sorts of moral hoops in arguing that “the (actual) act is still open to life” whilst seeking to ignore that the intent is contraceptive.
It can be argued that by ‘allowing’ NFP the Catholic Church retains many couples who might otherwise use contraception, so a sin to a void a greater sin, perhaps ? But what it really does is legitimise the contraceptive mindset, especially among young couples who should be entering marriage fully open to God’s purpose in welcoming all the children he would naturally send.
Surrendering the womb should be a fundamental act and statement of faith for all Christian women, should be an expected requirement of marriage for all Christian men, should be taught by all Christian Churches and should ideally be supported by the laws and social norms of all Christian societies.
Susanne, If I could, I would give your whole comment a big hug! I wholeheartedly agree!
~Jessica
Thank you Jessica for this heartfelt defense of living a Godly life, and putting our trust in His love and wisdom!
Brian and I both came from largely secular families who were bemused by our faith and desire to fill a quiver (and THANK YOU for explaining why it’s NOT a “cult”). I think we came to our beliefs out of “rebellion” I guess.
You’re welcome, Courtney!
I think there must be quite a few of us “rebellious” Christians. We grew up a certain way, were disillusioned by how empty the ways of the world are, and chose to live differently. Sometimes, it’s good to be rebellious, when it’s godly/biblical rebellion, I think. 🙂
~Jessica
YES! It was DEFINITELY disillusionment with the secular world on my part. I’m so grateful Brian came to same conclusion when we met.
We both come from families which had drifted into only a token observance of our faith. I was very lucky to meet my husband who was very strongly committed to returning to traditional teachings and putting the Lord at the centre of our lives. It is a wonderful thing that in later life our parents are following that example themselves
Thank you for your wisdom, Jessica.
Over the last 5 years my husband and I have moved toward giving control of my womb to God. As a result we have had 3 out of our 4 children in 4 years and I am pregnant with number 5. I struggle with the part of people saying, trying for as many children as possible. The reason for this struggle is breastfeeding has been very difficult for me, I have only been able to nurse my 3rd child. My 4th was born Jan 1 2021 and again I was unable to nurse, I was saddened but accepted it. My husband and I being open did nothing to prevent another child, well as I am sure you can see where this going. I found our in early April I was expecting our 5th child. I didn’t try to have all these babies so close but I didn’t have nursing as a natural way to space children.
I am thankful for this life but it has been a struggle for family to accept this. My in laws have scolded us as if we are being unwise and should know how this happens. It saddens me and I am trying to navigate it in a Christian way. I have take time to have more space from them and have been praying about it. I think I have realized God wants me to worry less about other people’s reactions.
Thank you again for blog and godly perspective.
You’re very welcome, Heather!
During very difficult times, I find comfort in the Psalms. There is so much there about God’s sovereignty, provision, love, protection, and salvation. David went through a lot of hard times, but he put his faith in God’s goodness. I think that having that same perspective can help us get through our hard times, too!
Congratulations on your newest pregnancy!! I hope you’re managing alright. It can certainly be challenging with lots of little ones! But it is ALL worth it. This is a season, and seasons pass. Win these little ones to the Lord, and you will have added that many more citizens to the Kingdom of Heaven! You are not living just for the now, but for eternity! Isn’t that amazing?
Thank you for sharing your experience. Yes, it can be hurtful when people say harsh or inconsiderate things to us. It can be hurtful when they don’t support us when they know we’re struggling. I understand completely. Let’s be like David! Let’s keep on meditating on God’s Word! “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4):
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord” Deut. 8:3
~Jessica
Thank you the encouragement. Heather
Hi Heather, I was so sad to hear that nursing hasn’t worked out for you. It’s WONDERFUL that babe #5 in its way!
It has been a personal struggle I have had to bring to the Lord each time! Thank you the encouragement as well! Heather
Hi Heather – I can understand that you are feeling a bit overwhelmed but trust in God’s plan and I am sure that you will pull through with your beautiful family.
Dear Jessica. Thank you for the post, I found it interesting. The middle ground between extremes is the way I was brought up and overall the advice has proven beneficial. However, this is my story…. When I was a teenager I became pregnant after being tricked. I remembered the advice so had an abortion but didn’t kill myself, which was the middle ground at that time. I had wanted to be dead very badly. I still mourn what might have been. I still believe I am condemned although I know I have tried my best to be near to God’s teachings. That’s a lot to carry around in the heart. God knows best. I hope my story helps. It’s a true story.
Hello, Susan,
I am so very sorry for what you have gone through. As I was reading your comment, I wondered, What kind of advice was it that you had been given? That part wasn’t very clear to me.
It is never God’s will for anyone to have an abortion. But, for those who have had one, God’s mercy and forgiveness are available to them through Christ. If we confess our sins (1 John 1:9), repent (completely change direction from running AWAY from God to coming TO God), and sincerely ask God to forgive us, believing that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient payment for ALL our sins (that all our sins were upon Him on the cross, as if HE had been the One Who had committed them)–THEN, God will completely forgive our sins. Sometimes when we sin after having believed in Jesus as Savior, we struggle with the thought that maybe we are no longer forgiven. But no: when we believe in Jesus as Savior with all our heart, then all our sins are forgiven–past, present, and future. If we sin after having become born again, then we have ALREADY been forgiven. We need to ask God to heal us, to cleanse us, and to help us grow to be like Jesus.
I did some very regrettable things when I was younger. You may like to read the post I wrote on that:
https://theheavenlyhearth.com/2021/06/11/how-asking-hard-questions-led-me-back-to-faith/
I also HIGHLY RECOMMEND this YouTube video titled, “How To Know That God Has Forgiven You”:
With Christian love,
~Jessica
Thank you Jessica for the reply. In response to your query about the middle ground approach I was taught as a child; it was Christian and Jewish family members inspired and voiced to help overcome some extreme non religious people in our family. It was intended to guide against straying from a moral life in a general sense. It was voiced in that way to include the various religions within the family. It was sound reasoning but too broad in essence. The Bible was not included in the message. That was the lack of depth. I think you are correct with the advice put forward. May God bless you for your help and love.
Hello, Susan, I’m still not sure from your response what kind of advice it was that your family gave you, but if you don’t want to say, that’s okay.
Thank you for taking the time to share a little of your personal story. Sometimes our most heart-wrenching stories can be what helps someone else who has had a similar experience learn how to move forward.
~Jessica
Thank you for this interesting article! I feel more prepared to defend my conviction of leaving our family size up to God now. I’m only recently married and not pregnant yet as far as I know, but hoping and praying to be blessed with a little one soon. My husband and I agreed to ignore the “wait a year before having kids” advice. It doesn’t even make sense, because since we could have waited a year and then not conceived for a long time anyway, depending on so many factors… We want to trust God to know when the timing is best, but is it wrong to pray for our first child to enter our lives soon?
Hi Erika, NO it is NEVER wrong to pray!
Definitely not as a wife – and together – it is a beautiful thing to pray for a child.
Hi, Erika! Thanks!
I think it’s good to pray for God’s blessings! He will answer in the way He thinks is best, and we need to be willing to live with that, whether He sends us children right away or makes us wait a little while. But whatever His answer may end up being, He wants us to ask Him for the things we desire, when those things are good. And children are called good by God in the Bible, so we know we can pray for that!
May God bless your recent marriage!
~Jessica
I enjoyed the post. I found it educational and though provoking. Nothing like this is ever discussed in the church I attend. It is mostly a seasoned congregation, but there are plenty within child bearing years.
Have you ever considered hosting a bible study on your blog?
Pretty much all Churches should be much more definite on this issue.
Hi, Lee, thank you for your comment!
I’ve never considered hosting a Bible study for women on my blog; thank you for the suggestion. I’m not sure what this would look like, could you give me some ideas?
~Jessica