I am a twenty-eight-year-old woman. I have known God since I was a child, but six months ago I strayed from His path and ended up pregnant. Now I don’t know what I’m going to do because my family is not very supportive. Instead, they told me that I had ruined my life with this baby, and that’s why I spend days at a time crying. I don’t know what I’m going to do to make it when my baby is born. I would like for you to give me some advice.

Dear Friend,

You say that you have known God since you were a child, so you have most likely heard about many of the characters whose histories are recounted in the Bible. Many children have heard about David the shepherd boy, and how God helped him kill Goliath the giant. David said to Goliath, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty.”(1) Then David shot one stone from his slingshot and the giant fell over dead.

That same David, who knew God well, grew up to be the king of Israel. But unfortunately, he didn’t always follow God’s way. In fact, he eventually committed adultery and murder. But when David regretted his actions and prayed asking God for mercy,(2) God did forgive him. After that, David was able to renew his close relationship with God.

In your case, yes, you broke God’s law when you had intimate relations with someone to whom you were not married. And yes, you are suffering the natural consequences of what you have done. But just like God forgave David, He will also forgive you when you ask Him for mercy.

The question is whether or not your child has to suffer the natural consequences of your sin. Do you have the economic resources to provide for all of your child’s needs? Are you emotionally strong enough to meet the full-time demands of a child while also having to support the two of you? Do you have close friends or family members who will back you up and love your child? If you have to answer “no” to any of these questions, we implore you to consider giving your baby a more stable life. This is possible through adoption.

Please read Cases 194 and 196. The women in those cases had experiences that might help you with your decision. We also encourage you to go online and search for mothers who have adopted, been adopted themselves, or put a child up for adoption. Find out all you can about this loving option.

In our case, if it were not for a brave woman who chose to put her baby up for adoption, we wouldn’t have one of our precious granddaughters. Furthermore, if it weren’t for adoption, we wouldn’t have three of our five children. And finally, if it weren’t for adoption, I myself might not exist, because my father was adopted by my loving grandparents.

We wish you the best,

Linda
____________________
1 1S 17:45
2 Ps 51