Friendship—It's Complicatedনমুনা

Day 10

The origin of the word midwife is mid, “together with,” plus wife, “woman.” ”To become a spiritual midwife means that we are together with women, not against them. We are for women; they are not our competition. Friends, it is not our role on this earth to tear down, cancel, destroy, or slander another woman or to set her life on fire. The fall in the garden seems to have made us all-out enemies, but restoration and redemption here look like something tangible, not theoretical.

Healing and wholeness in any relationship require action steps to be applied daily. First, we must be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, and then we are reconciled to one another through the powerful gift of the Holy Spirit, also called the Advocate. We are to advocate for one another, not critique, criticize, or reject one another. This is what unity in our diversity looks like. It looks like championing and standing with one another to bring forth life.

Standing with other women in times of oppression, heartache, fear, discomfort, and pain is not easy. I love looking to Shiphra and Puah, midwives in the Bible who cared for so many Hebrew women and even delivered Moses. In Exodus, we see how these midwives protected life (that of each woman giving birth and of her child) because they feared God and not man. When we become too accustomed to the ways of this world, we stop protecting life—spiritually and physically. We stop protecting one another. We look out for ourselves and forget that we belong to one another.

Midwives give space to mourn, grieve, celebrate, experience pain and the joy of life with women, not against them. And this is the call to becoming spiritual midwives. When our sisters and friends are pregnant with a dream, may we be women who stand alongside them to bring that dream into reality. And when the worst comes to our sisters’ and friends’ lives—death, destruction, and earth-shattering pain—may we be women who don’t walk away but come alongside.

As we step into being spiritual midwives for one another, may we be women who cause other women to walk confidently in their unique, God-given abilities. May we create spaces where women are informed and affirmed. May we create environments where peace resides and life comes forth. May we be patient with and attentive to each of our sisters and their distinctive stories and assignments here on earth, releasing them to be all they were made to be in Christ. And may we empower, encourage, and strengthen our sisters to run their race with endurance that lasts until His kingdom fully comes here on earth as it is in heaven.

Reflection Points

• What aspects of becoming a spiritual midwife seem like huge hurdles to you? What part of being a spiritual midwife resonates with you and comes easily? Why?

• How can you be an advocate for others as the Holy Spirit is an advocate for you?

• Take a moment as we bring this devotional to a close to admonish, encourage, and lift up another sister in your world. What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do for her or with her? Let’s empower the women in our lives.