MORGAN FIKKERT|GUEST

The “sidewalk” in front of an abortion clinic is a dark place—I’ve been there. When I worked for a pro-life organization, part of my job was to stand there as the last line of defense to change a mother or father’s mind. Many days, it felt hopeless. Most cars—especially those seeking an abortion—rolled past us without stopping to talk. Watching them park and walk into the clinic felt like watching someone walk into their grave without a fight. Still, we saw glimpses of light whenever we were able to talk to someone, change their mind, or offer the help they were looking for.

Life in the Womb

During this recent Christmas season, I was reminded of my experiences on that sidewalk as I reflected on the visit between Mary and Elizabeth in Luke 1:39-45. Two women, decades apart in age, with unexpected pregnancies, find joy and encouragement together, culminating in Mary’s incredible song of praise to God (vv. 46-55).

One amazing part of this story is when the baby John in Elizabeth’s womb, probably 6 months old, responds to what should have been an unfamiliar voice to him. We know that babies start to recognize familiar voices in the womb, but John could not have known Mary’s voice yet. Possibly even more miraculous is the fact that he doesn’t leap with joy in the womb simply because of Mary, but also because he recognizes the tiny life of our Lord Jesus who was growing inside of her. This story is a powerful testament to the truth that babies in the womb are fully human, even capable of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

The Precious Miracle of Life

There are many truths we should remember this week with Sanctity of Life Sunday. We should remember the men and women whose suffering and vulnerability leads them to choose abortion, and those who are sold the lie that an abortion will give them freedom, only to live bound with regret. We should remember the men and women who long for healthy babies but who experience miscarriage and infertility in a world cursed by sin and death. We should remember the babies who are not aborted—but who are also not loved and cared for. We should remember that some women in our own churches have had an abortion or might be considering it even now. On this Sunday, we remember the sanctity of life: life is a holy and precious miracle of God.

But most of all, we should remember that God is at work, just like He was in Luke 1 with two miraculous babies. The same triune God who worked miracles in the Christmas story to bring us salvation is still at work today, and sometimes we even get to see that work up close and personal.

Our God is at Work

One of those dark days when I stood in front of the abortion clinic, I managed to stop and talk to a woman who was heading there for an abortion. I encouraged her to turn into a parking lot nearby to see an ultrasound of her baby before she made a final decision. She agreed, so I directed her over to the van. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her again that day, but I found out later that during her ultrasound she discovered that she was having twins. Apparently, she had been praying on her way to the clinic that God would make it clear to her whether or not she should have the abortion. She already had a few kids at home, and she was struggling to handle life as a single mom. But when she saw two wiggling babies, she knew God had made it clear: she needed to find help, but she could not and would not kill those babies. God is at work, and we got to see it that day.

This story became even more personal a few months later when I was a pregnant seminary student with little financial cushion. I was trying to figure out insurance and needed an ultrasound, so I went to a pregnancy resource center to get a free one. The day we went, my husband and I found out that we were having twins. It was an overwhelming moment, but I knew God would provide, and He certainly has. It brings tears to my eyes even now to think of the twin mother bond I have with that woman who decided to keep her babies that day at the clinic. God is still at work, and His Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, testifies to the beauty of life in the womb and beyond.

Let us pray this week and always for Him to continue changing hearts and minds in the ways only He can. Let’s pray for Him to continue to provide for families and babies as only He can. And let us be a part of that work in whatever way that we can.