by Kristi Seiber, ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor
Plans, dreams, agendas, goals, drive...There are many factors that motivate the call to serve our community and country. For those serving in the military or as first responders, the greatest underlying motivator is a desire to serve others. This is a good desire, a God-given desire that takes commitment, dedication, and sometimes years of sacrifice.
Every year, an increasingly greater number of women are answering such calls to serve. Though they are capable, fierce, and brave, many will experience perceived inconvenience when realizing with stark clarity that their female body design is unique: They’ve become pregnant—and this is not part of their plan.
Of course, unexpected and unintended pregnancies happen in every walk of life. But for a woman who has committed her mind and body to intense battle-carrying and peace-keeping, pregnancy can feel like an added heavy burden.
She may feel that her body has betrayed her. She may see her pregnancy and newborn baby as the end to a dream. By way of her calling, her instinct to protect and serve others can outweigh the thought of protecting and serving this unseen "possibility" she’s suddenly and unexpectedly carrying. The drive to protect and defend life at all cost gets lost on the new life forming within her.
Until recently, abortion has been easily accessible across the United States. Since the Dobbs decision that reversed Roe v. Wade, many states have exercised their power to restrict or ban the practice of abortion. Even still, the pro-death culture of this generation has worked hard to promote accessibility and availability to the abortion pill and other access to terminate life.
We hear all the statistics. We see the laws argued with protests, strong measures, doubling down, and many loud voices demanding to be heard. Much has been written within the pro-life movement to defend the unborn. But my intent in this space is to bring some personal stories home, so readers may find strength and encouragement from others, and from the sufficient truth of God’s Word.
We are called to comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have been given by Christ (2 Cor. 1:4).
I live in Tennessee, near a huge military base. In 2022, the State of Tennessee signed into law the Human Life Protection Act, banning abortion. Within the pro-life community, it is no secret that pregnant mothers, especially on military posts, can find sources to supply the abortion pill, now reported in many circles as the primary method of abortion. Some reports suggest that upwards of 60 percent of all abortions are now performed at home, alone, through the use of methotrexate, mifepristone, and/or misoprostol (abortion pill prescriptions). Recently, we learned that the dangerous and harmful effects of these drugs have been grossly underreported.
As a member of the board of directors of our local pregnancy resource center, I am blessed to serve many soldiers and their families when they discover they are unexpectedly pregnant. In addition, I owned and operated an elective 3D/4D ultrasound studio in our town. Seeing the true hand of God at work inside the womb is fascinating.
"You formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb." —Psalm 139:13 -
Approximately 60-70 percent of our families are military, and the rest primarily consist of law enforcers, firefighters, nurses, and first responders. I love the times I get to spend with these families and share in the joy of seeing a live glimpse of their precious babies in 3D images and videos. I also love hearing their stories, many filled with tears.
One such account left a huge imprint on my heart. I was able to provide a complementary ultrasound to one of the moms who came into the pregnancy resource center early in her pregnancy. She was a soldier and shared her story with me as we watched her thirty-six-week-old baby move, wave, and grin on the seventy-five-inch screen. Her little miracle had survived a surgical abortion!
You see, the mommy had orders for a three-month training. Pregnancy would have rendered her unable to participate. She believed, as many do, that before a certain gestational age, the "embryo" or "fetus" she’s carrying is not really a baby, not truly a life being, but rather a clump of cells. So, as many do, she decided to have a surgical abortion.
Afterward, the doctor did due diligence to confirm that all of the baby’s body was removed and accounted for. Mom was sent home to recover.
Weeks later, while she was at the training, she realized that something within her body was not quite as she expected. After she arrived home, a pregnancy test confirmed that she was still pregnant—she had conceived twins, and she was ecstatic. She wanted to be a mommy to her baby and worked hard to prepare for the arrival of her surviving baby.
She and her husband both recognized that it was purely the hand of God that saved this little one. Such a remarkable story! I think of this mommy often. I pray that the Lord will continue to grow her heart through any grief she may be experiencing as a result of taking one of her baby’s lives. I pray that she will know the full repentance and forgiveness that only comes through Christ, and that He will use her story in the hearts and lives of others.
For our God is forgiving and merciful for all who repent and believe (1 John 1:9, Heb. 8:12, Rom. 5:10).
Another situation I often recall is a sweet couple who were law enforcement officers. Even though their pregnancy was not intended or convenient, they strove to do the "right" thing by getting married and trying to make the best of the unexpected circumstances.
We walked with them through every stage of the pregnancy and saw their baby on the screen. As a keepsake, we made a book of ultrasound pictures from each monthly visit.
Soon enough, their baby was born. However, the colicky newborn, coupled with unfortunate work situations and the stress of a new marriage, their beginning months of parenthood were wrought with turmoil. They were trying—but by their human strength.
Within a few short weeks of their son’s birth, amid their failing new marriage and the added heat of life events, they discovered once again that they were pregnant. The dear mom was at an extreme breaking point. Out of desperation, not knowing what else to do, she took the abortion pill.
Almost immediately, she felt convicted. Regret brought her to her knees, and she sought the Lord’s forgiveness (2 Cor. 7:8-10; 1 John 1:8-10).
She did not know of the Abortion Pill Reversal program or that there was something she could do to save her baby if she acted quickly. But she found something greater: her Savior, Jesus Christ, and His forgiveness of her sin—and so did her husband (Ps. 51:1-4).
Within a few weeks, and much to the couple’s delight, they discovered that the abortion pill had miraculously been unsuccessful. All glory be to God! He answered their prayers, saved their baby’s life, and gave them new life in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). Their two sons were born eleven months apart.
Not every story ends with a baby in Mommy’s arms. Most don’t. Yet, for those whom the Lord calls, He saves. He uses our experiences, our pains, our pasts, and even our sins to point us to the One who saves.
He uses our stories as testimonies to His goodness and faithfulness so that He will receive all the glory. His faithfulness is what we point to. He uses us to share the hope He has given us for the encouragement of others who are burdened with the weight of sin and suffering (1 Peter 3:15).
He did this for me. He will do this for all who repent and believe.
Has your life been affected in some way by abortion? You’re not alone, and abortion is not beyond our sovereign and merciful Father’s ability and willingness to forgive (Isaiah 43:25).
Please do not suffer in silence. The help of biblical counseling through Fallen Soldiers Ministries is a perfect place to start.
Other Helpful Resources:
Reproductive Loss Network
https://reproductivelossnetwork.org/about/
CareNet
Abortion Pill Reversal
https://abortionpillreversal.com/
by Kristi Seiber, ACBC Certified Biblical Counselor
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