 When I was pregnant I was given lots of excuses. I can eat what I want, when I want, in whatever quantity I want… It’s okay if you have a bad attitude. It’s the hormones! And I can’t tell you how many countless times I whined about being uncomfortable, even though (for me at least) it really wasn’t that bad most of the time. Granted, carrying a baby isn’t an easy ordeal on one’s body, but does that truly give me an excuses to not show Christ’s attributes of self control, patience, kindness etc.? Early in my pregnancy I was hit with this reality in a staff meeting. I was getting so irritated I yelled (I rarely yell) about pizza. PIZZA FOLKS! Yes I was hungry. Yes I had crazy hormones. But yell at others because of those factors? I had to ask myself, “If Jesus were a pregnant woman, would He yell at others?” Okay, that is a bizarre question, but one worth asking. Because my attitude was essentially saying that it was okay to not live yielded to Christ, that I had an excuse to not be filled be with the Holy Spirit. Crazy logic, right?! No where in scripture does God give pregnant women an excuse: “Be filled with the Holy Spirit… but lady with haywire hormones can have a pass.” “Show self-control… but pregnant ladies go crazy.” Not saying it’s easy to do, but we truly don’t have an excuse. Yes it will be more difficult, but that’s a promise in scripture. “Consider it a great joy, my [hormonal sisters], whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 Honestly, we are met with a difficult trial with being pregnant. It’s not easy trying to sleep with knees, feet, arms or anything other body parts belonging to another human wiggling in your lungs. It’s not fun having swollen ankles, feet and toes. It’s no picnic feeling extremely hungry or like you want to get everything out of your stomach. But these are light and momentary troubles (2 Corinthians 4:17). It’s uncomfortable, but God cares more about our character than our comfort. Don’t misunderstand me, however. It’s okay to be emotional and hormonal. (One day I had to leave campus because I literally could NOT stop crying. Everything made me cry, including how pink my jacket was – not exaggerating!) But these God-given emotions should not be taken advantage of for our own sinful, selfish gain. Dear Jesus, It’s hard to have you Lord of all sometimes!! It’s hard to keep you on the throne and see people as you do – even to see myself as you do – when my body is going through an abnormal event. But you are God, and You can handle my craziness. Help remind me in times when it’s hard to trust you with my feelings that I need you more. That You are the source of life and godliness – thus I CAN look like you if I TRUST YOU! SO much easier said than done at time, huh? Oh Jesus, I suck at following you, but with You ALL THINGS truly are possible. Praise God! In Your Powerful Name I pray… 
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