If you’ve been at this work for any length of time, you know a multitude of trials can beset those who put their hand to the plow in pro-life ministry.
Those we serve often present with multiple issues going on in their lives—an unplanned pregnancy is only the tip of the iceberg.
Volunteers come and go. Ongoing training takes time and effort. We don’t receive government funding, so the burden of fundraising is always on our minds.
We face challenges in the form of external opposition from a culture that refuses to value human life as sacred.
We may find ourselves dealing with fake clients who come in for the purpose of discrediting our work. We might even come to work one day to discover protestors outside our doors.
As if such trials aren’t difficult enough, we may also battle relational discord on our team of staff, board, and volunteers.
We may struggle to get along and find agreement in how to approach the ministry.
Tweet This: We face challenges in pregnancy help in the form of external opposition from a culture that refuses to value human life as sacred.
Such external and internal pressures can feel overwhelming.
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The Apostle Paul describes how he and his team felt on one of their trips when they arrived in Macedonia:
“…we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.” –2 Cor. 7:5.
Yes, even the mighty apostles suffered from pressure, stress, and conflict.
Here’s the thing: pregnancy help ministry is a work close to God’s heart. It is a lifesaving, soul-saving ministry.
It is a labor of love which upholds God’s own values—the dignity and worth He places on every image-bearer He creates.
It is a work that requires swimming upstream against the current of a culture which wants to ignore and discard preborn human beings as less-than and inconvenient.
I put it this way in Unleashing Your Courageous Compassion:40 Reflections on Rescuing the Unborn:
“This isn’t work that can be accomplished in our own strength. It’s too big.”
Here’s why: there’s something dark at work behind all the difficulties, the harassment, the fears.
It’s more than mere sociological problems or relationship challenges or practical setbacks.
The dark force behind our difficulties is our very real spiritual enemy, the devil.
From the first pages of the Bible, we’re told about what’s happening behind the scenes when it comes to God and the crown of His creation, human beings.
Satan slithers into the scene by Genesis Chapter 3 and tempts the humans, who are enjoying sweet fellowship with God, to disobey Him.
Why?
Because God loves humans, and Satan hates God. Therefore, Satan works to destroy the creatures whom God finds most precious.
This has been his modus operandi from the beginning—wreaking destruction on humans any way he can get away with it.
He works at killing the unborn. He works at wrecking marriages, families, and friendships. He works at ruining lives.
He works at keeping people from experiencing the saving grace of Christ.
Tweet This: God loves humans and Satan hates God. Satan works to destroy what God finds most precious- the unborn, marriages, and families.
At the end of the day, pregnancy help ministry is so challenging because of the enemy we constantly face.
But there’s good news in what would otherwise be a bleak picture.
Another apostle writes in 1 John 3:8b, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.”
The devil tries to kill, but Jesus gives life. The devil tries to steal, but Jesus restores what was stolen. The devil lies to people, but Jesus is the Truth.
Maybe you need a reminder today of where your troubles come from—and Who is on your side.
Perhaps you need to read the following verses afresh—and may I suggest, aloud and slowly? Don’t allow your familiarity to tempt you to rush through the passage with mere mental assent.
Allow the Lord to root these truths deep in your spirit:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” –Eph. 6:10-18a
Mind if I pray for you?
Father, I lift up my sisters and brothers in life-affirming work. Let these truths go deep into their hearts. Reassure them of the cosmic importance of their work and of Your great power to deliver and provide. Enable them to stand firm and pray with great confidence in Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
