Photo by Marc Zimmer on Unsplash
Oh how great it would be if we had control over our situations, if we could dictate what happens to us. If only this was possible and true, then, as some of us I’m sure, think, maybe, we’d have a better life than we do now. Right?
Last September 29, 2018, I thought about this as I looked back on what happened to me exactly a year ago. I lay in bed in the labor room of FEU-NRMF hospital with an intern standing on my right, my OB-gynecologist in front of me, and two nurses on my left. Then I received the terrible news: I would have to undergo an emergency C-section. Since I had not delivered within an hour since my water broke, this brought stress upon baby Kaela. This led to her pooping inside my womb. Because this was life-threatening for the both of us, the hospital’s SOP was to subject the mom to an immediate C-Section operation. A few minutes after my husband and I were informed, I was brought to the operating room. While I was still completely shocked and in denial of what just happened, my doctor began the operation. After thirty minutes, in my embrace was a healthy baby Kaela.
Despite the operation having gone well and my doctor’s commitment to take good care of me and my baby, a part of me still wanted to go back to that time in the labor room, one hour before my water broke, and change the events that would happen after. Instead of saying “I see, okay” to the intern who was with me when my water broke, telling me to wait until Doc came back, this time I would probably tell her clearly and with great emphasis, “No, please call her NOW because I think my water just broke!” Then my baby would not have been stressed, sparing her from danger, and me from an emergency C-section.
Oh, if only I could.
There are a lot of things in life that we have no control over. This includes the bad situations we have gone through, are currently in, or will still encounter. A lot of us would try and rewrite the pages of our lives, only to end up frustrated – because, yes, there will still be chapters where tragedy strikes.
But here is what I have learned: It’s good to accept that storms are a part of life. But to overcome one, we must remember Who is with us whenever we face a storm.
Remember, God is always with you—in good times and bad. He does not only know how to celebrate with you when you are happy, but He sits beside you when you grieve, listens to you when you are hurting, and stands strong to defend and protect you when you feel weak. He is right there with you in the storm. You can count on it. I know, because in the operating room, I felt safe to just let go and let things happen the moment I felt His presence. He quieted me with His love. He assured me with His words. God held me and Kaela securely in His hands. Not for a moment, not even that life-threatening moment, would God forsake me or my baby girl.
God does not waste a single experience or event in our lives. We may not like the storms that come our way, and might even think that we would be happier if we did not have to go through bad situations, but everything of value goes through a time of refining and purification. If gold has to go through fire, what more we who belong to Jesus Christ and are being conformed to His image? If a plant needs to go through trimming and pruning before a beautiful flower can bloom, what more we who are children of the Mighty God?
As we accept the truth that there are things beyond our control, may we embrace the loving reminder that God is the Creator of the Universe. All creation bows before Him, including the hardest of storms and the mightiest waves. His hand is what will carry us through. As we trust in Him, God’s glory will shine through us as this difficult season passes.
Krizia Marie S. Vega is a young mom who loves writing about her life experiences and learnings in the desire to inspire and encourage young women like herself in the areas of family, career, love, and faith. She is wife to Pastor Eric Vega of Church So Blessed (Rodriguez) and mom to nine-month old Kaela Marie. She currently works at World Vision Philippines.
