God's Perfect Plan

Oct 6, 2024 | by The Fellowship

For many years, I have been privileged to be a servant leader in an in-depth, international Bible study with more than 400,000 members in 120 countries.  Several years ago, when the opportunity came to open a satellite class in a nearby town, I gladly agreed to serve as the leader for the new group.  Since I became part of this study of the Scriptures decades ago, my spiritual growth has been tremendous, and I wanted the same opportunity to become available to as many others as possible.

In our discussion group, we share answers to questions about the passage in the Bible that was the focus that week.  The members also commit to praying for each other and share specific needs.  Though these can be communicated by email, text or a phone call, I like the personal touch of talking to each lady every week.

A couple of weeks ago, one of my ladies asked for prayer for her pregnant granddaughter who was nearing the time to deliver her baby.  Her doctor said the baby would come early, but if the infant could stay in the womb for 34 weeks, most likely there would not be any serious problems. So that was the prayer request.

Our Bible study class meets on Friday mornings and immediately after it was over, my husband and I left town to attend a funeral service of a friend several hundred miles away.  This wonderful Christian woman was the mother of the best friend of one of our daughters.  The family had lived nearby for many years, but eventually moved.

Our daughter was upset at being unable to also attend, but she had a major conflict.  As an obstetrics nurse in a large hospital, she was scheduled to teach a class on natural childbirth.  The date and time had been scheduled many months previously, and she had been unable to find anyone who could teach the class for her.  The class and the funeral were on the Saturday of that weekend.

The funeral service was very inspiring, and we got to spend time with the family.  Meanwhile, our daughter was teaching the natural childbirth class.  She noticed one of the moms-to-be looked a bit distressed and went over to her as soon as the class ended and asked if she was OK.  

“I think I just had a contraction,” the young woman said. “But I am just at 32 weeks!”  While they were talking, she had another contraction. “Come with me,” my daughter said. “We need to get you to Labor and Delivery right now!”

The next week while making calls to my Bible study ladies, I learned from the one who requested prayer for her granddaughter that the expected baby had been born at 32 weeks and weighed 3 lbs. 7 oz.  I was able to share with her that it was my daughter at the hospital who helped when her granddaughter’s contractions started and got her into the hands of the delivery team.

Even though the Lord did not grant the 34 weeks, He showed His benevolence in an extraordinary way.  During labor, the baby got in distress and the heart rate dropped dangerously low. The mother was rushed to an operating room where a C section was performed.  That is when the team discovered the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck!  Because of the Lord’s ordering of events, both the newborn and the mother are fine.  Our Lord of infinite love does indeed work in mysterious ways!

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  
Lamentations 3:22-23