"God is withholding children until we're more financially stable and spiritually mature."
How it sounds in your head: You've got some debt, the house needs work, and you're not leading family devotions like you should. Maybe God is waiting until you've cleaned up your finances, grown in your faith, proven you can handle the responsibility. Every month without conception feels like God saying 'Not ready yet - work on yourself first.'
"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."
-- Galatians 3:13-14Performance-based blessing theology, Old Covenant conditions applied to New Covenant promises.
It makes logical sense - why would God give you children before you're prepared? Every sermon on stewardship and leadership reinforces that maybe you need to qualify first. Other Christian men seem to have it more together when their kids arrive.
Ruth was a broke Moabite widow gleaning leftover grain to survive - zero financial stability, pagan background, immigrant status, no 'spiritual maturity' credentials. The Lord 'gave her conception' and she bore Obed, who became grandfather of King David. God didn't wait for financial counseling or spiritual formation - He gave conception to a poor foreigner.
I REFUSE the lie that God withholds children until I qualify through financial stability or spiritual maturity. IT IS WRITTEN that Christ redeemed me from the curse so the BLESSING OF ABRAHAM would come by FAITH, not by works. I don't earn children by budget discipline or devotional consistency. IT IS WRITTEN that the BARAK blessing protected and prospered LIARS, DECEIVERS, and FAILURES because it's based on COVENANT. I declare children by grace, conception as GIFT not reward, and a family that testifies to blessing by promise, not by performance. God gave Ruth a son when she was a broke gleaner - He gives children to SONS, not to earners.
The Father who gave a son to Ruth while she was gleaning grain to survive isn't checking your credit score or your quiet time consistency. He's running toward you as you are RIGHT NOW - debt, mess, immaturity and all - with the robe that says 'You're qualified because YOU'RE MINE,' and the baby comes WITH the robe.