In God’s perfect timing, I had been meditating on Psalm 139: The Inescapable God, when the monumental news of the Roe v Wade overturning came. God is good!
Our nation was under the curse of legalized abortion for 49 years. But God’s hand has just lifted this from us, all praise be to Him. We have prayed, pleaded and cried out to Him for many years, wondering when He will answer us. He has just given an answer, as if to say: “I am going to end this. The battle is not over yet, but I will end it with my hand.”
I would like to share with you where the Holy Spirit has taken me in reflection on this amazing event and beautiful Psalm of David.
Psalm 139 is a reminder of how well God knows each one of us, surrounding and protecting us as His faithful followers. I find His Word to be very comforting here:
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You beset me behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5
Beset means surrounded and covered, which paints a beautiful image of being hemmed in by God completely.
How amazing to realize we are known, loved, and surrounded.
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.” Psalm 139: 6
His hand is upon His faithful much more than we realize. The overturning of Roe v Wade points to this great reality.
It brings to mind a miracle of God’s hand I once experienced.
Several years ago our family was on a trip visiting relatives and late one evening a conversation ensued about coming trials and tribulations, a time of great evil and darkness. Something spoken along the way triggered a feeling of uneasiness within me. This was during a period of my life in which I battled anxiety.
Worry about the future and things we had discussed began to overtake my mind at bedtime, which made falling asleep difficult. I did my best to pray and stay calm, I was pregnant at the time so calm and sleep were a priority. But the more I tried to relax the more anxious I felt. This battle went on for what felt like an eternity. Just like our suffering under the curse of legalized abortion, I began to wonder when God would answer.
Then something extraordinary happened.
I felt a large hand come down and rest on me. It was so large that it covered my whole body. I will never forget the sensation. It was familiar, very much like my husband’s hand. It had a similar comfort but was different. It felt spousal. My husband was asleep next to me and this was not Him.
“You beset me behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.” Psalm 139:5
A feeling of warmth moved through my body like a wave, beginning at my head and moving down to my feet. I felt such peace. I remember resting in this peace for a moment before falling asleep.
When I awoke in the morning I recalled the experience and felt it was an act of God. I have held this in my heart over the years and will be expanding on it more in a future post on spousal love.
Since then I have pondered what God wanted to show me through this encounter. Very often when God moves or speaks in our lives there are multiple tiers of meaning He desires to impart to us. Over time I have come to understand some things.
First is the understanding of His omnipresence. He is present to His faithful always, in all situations. And in times of uncertainty and distress He is closest to us, especially when we call on Him. In fact He is so present to us, there is nowhere we can go to escape Him.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of dawn and dwell beyond the sea, even there your hand guides me, your right hand holds me fast.” Psalm 139: 7-8
I also have a greater understanding of His magnificent power. Just the touch of His hand extinguished my fears. God can do anything. There is nothing more powerful than He.
I also feel He conveyed to me that night His desire to bring peace. I cried out for help and He answered. He calmed the storm within, as if to say: “I hear your prayer, I am here. Peace, be still.”
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
I was different after this. Over time I began to interiorize more deeply the things of God. His power and responsiveness to our needs, His peaceful presence and healing hand.
Even after this extraordinary experience, there was still a battle ahead. His hand lifted something that night, but what followed was a healing that took time. More was needed for me to be freed of anxiety. Just as He has done with His faithful in the Roe v Wade overturning, He placed His hand upon me and my unborn child as if to say: “I am going to end this. The battle is not over yet, but I will end it with my hand.”
God finishes the work He starts. Through the action of The Holy Spirit, I have since been freed of lifelong fear and anxiety. Praise be to Him! This has brought me the long-lasting peace that surpasses all understanding.
My hope and prayer is that God’s faithful will now be able to move forward with a greater awareness of His power and presence, and responsiveness to us. He desires to bring us peace, as if to say: “I hear your prayer, I am here. Peace, be still.”
It is true that the battle of abortion remains, because more is needed for humanity to be healed and freed. We are in need of a global deliverance. This will involve some labor pains which I wrote about here: https://hisbreathfills.wordpress.com/2021/11/23/giving-birth/
It will take a miraculous action of The Holy Spirit to bring this about. When The Holy Spirit moves, He brings us conviction of our sins and a greater understanding of who God is and who we are in Him:
Precious and unrepeatable, known and loved.
“You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother’s womb. I praise you, because I am wonderfully made; wonderful are your works! My very self you know.” Psalm 139: 13-14
This undeniable Truth brings healing and freedom. When humanity can begin to recognize their own dignity they will see it in the unborn child. I believe the overturning of Roe v Wade is a test. God has expressed His will and desire to end abortion. Will people accept this or continue to accept the lie?
For our nation to truly live out the freedom we are built on we must be healed. I believe God’s hand will move to end this battle and His Spirit will pour upon us in a way that is unimaginable. Through this I believe humanity’s sense of who we are in Him will be restored.
Then we will experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.
In the meantime, pray for The Holy Spirit: The Helper, to come to us and bring a new Pentecost!
God bless you
Breath of God 