Tricia Goyer HomepageTricia Goyer

Living God’s Word One Step at a Time

You are here: Home / Archives for help for teen moms

help for teen moms

by 1 Comment

Think You Might Be Pregnant? Your Bad News Could be Your Biggest Blessing

Think You Might Be Pregnant? Your Bad News Could be Your Biggest Blessing

I remember the day I found out I was pregnant. I was 17-years-old and a senior in high school. The news was BAD in every way. My boyfriend dumped me when I didn’t have an abortion. I dropped out of school because I was so embarrassed of being pregnant. Yet that dark day turned into something beautiful.

When I was six months pregnant I dedicated my heart to God. I told Him that I wanted to live His way and not my own. My future started looking bright! I then started praying for my future husband, and God brought me an amazing, godly guy. We were married when my son Cory was 9 months old.

“Well that’s good for you,” you might be thinking. “But that doesn’t happen every day. That can’t happen to me. God can’t help me—won’t help me like that.”

Friend, I think He might. He wants you to turn to Him. He wants to provide a good life for you and your child. And he might even bring you an amazing, godly husband. How do I know? I’m not the only one He’s done it for. Below is a story from my friend Kelly. I met her at one of my speaking events. Here’s her story in her words:

 

“You are probably my only friend who will never get married or have kids,” said my friend just one week before I found out I was pregnant and just ten months before I met my future husband. Life can change in an instant. I realized my life’s course had drastically changed direction on what is known on my calendar as Black Monday.

Black Monday was the catalyst that propelled me away from eating movie-theater butter popcorn and a bottle wine for dinner to healthy home cooked meals. From repeatedly getting into superficial relationships revolving around sex to a committed marriage revolving around God (with sex as a perk <smile>.) From avoiding God because I feared Him to facing fears with God as my deepest and safest confidant. I still experience times of exercising faith without “feeling” it and overwhelming sense of fear, but they are less and less all the time. I am still convinced God is good, He is for me and not against me, He is faithful to me. Period. Black Monday was the start of my path in believing these things.

Several weeks before Black Monday my mom and asked if I thought I could be pregnant because of some recent gut issues. Adamant and defensive, I assured her that was not possible. Her mom wiles were sharp that night, and she told me how my younger sister found condoms in my apartment. Busted. This was God’s grace, showing me the truth in love. But I wasn’t ready to face the fact that my lifestyle needed healing.

After weeks of denial and bad gas, I was at a lunch date with girlfriends. One of them shared tons of strange symptoms that I totally identified with. The culmination of stories about her GI track irritations came to a roaring crescendo… she was pregnant! Fear seized my mind. I had to get out of there, find Planned Parenthood and “flush out whatever is in there.” God totally intervened. My girlfriend followed me out, all the while trying to talk me out of a panic and an abortion. She grabbed my shoulders and said, “Kelly! You are not thinking clearly.” Miraculously I just biked home. God saved Toby’s life.

As soon as I got home I took a test. The reality of being pregnant was so harsh I went outside for fresh air to help me stop hyperventilating. As soon as I got outside (to really drive the point home), I witnessed two ducks mating right before my crying eyes. The Lord. Is. Hilarious.

Shortly after finding out I was pregnant, I heard Tricia give her testimony. My heart was softened and that night I made a list of values I wanted in a husband and began praying for him every day until I met him 4 weeks after Toby was born. Five months after we met, we were married and Toby was adopted.

God is a god of miracles.

 

I love Kelly’s story. I love how her bad news was turned into a blessing! I’ve heard similar stories from so many young women who dared to take these steps of faith:

  1. Turn your life over to God. You’ve been trying to do things on your own and you’ve messed up. Admit that to Him. (Don’t worry, He won’t be surprised.) Ask God to forgive you and give you a good future.
  2. Start praying for your future husband. Consider reading Praying for Your Future Husband and praying along with the book. Think of all the positive, godly qualities you want in a husband and pray for those things.
  3. Pray for your baby and dedicate him/her to God. You never know how God will use your child! Even if the world may say that your child is a mistake or accident, that’s not the truth. God created your child in your womb and has good plans for your child’s life!
  4. Open your heart to those who want what’s best for you. It may be a parent or a friend. Surround yourself with people who love God and want His best for you. The road won’t be easy, but good friends help you on your walk.
  5. Consider reading Teen Mom. This book was written just for YOU. Know that other teen moms have gone on to lead amazing, beautiful lives … and you can, too!

Click here for more resources for teen moms!

 

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.


Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

OLD CODE

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.


by 4 Comments

Somebody Needs to Hear…

somebody needs to hear

Last night I sat in a small support group of teenage mothers, and one brave young woman, Liz, walked to the front of the room.

“Guys, I usually sit there among you, but I asked Miss Tricia if I could share. You see, I’ve started this journey with Jesus, and I have to share all the amazing things God has done for me.”

Less than four months ago Liz showed up at our group with a dump truck of sin weighing down her heart. She was so ashamed of her recent mistakes that she’d missed many meetings. Yet a glimmer of hope stirred inside. Go to them, and ask for prayer; maybe they’ll still love you.

The first night back, Liz took me aside, and we found a quiet room. She poured out her heart, and I cried along with her. Then she prayed and accepted Christ in her heart.

As I led her in that prayer I could feel the weights lifting: pain, shame, disgrace . . . they were boulders being hurled from her back. We stood and embraced, and the light on her face reflected the transformation in her heart. She prayed and asked God to take over, and He did. Man, how He did!

“You’ll never believe all God’s done for me. He’s provided people to care for me, to mentor me, and He’s taken care of all my needs and the needs of my two kids.” Liz walked away from unhealthy relationships and discovered a community of Christians to care. She’s a different mom, a different student, a different friend.

“If you want to join me on my journey, call me whenever you want or text me. Come over and we’ll read the Bible together. There’s so much He has for you.”

And as I sat and listened with tears in my eyes, I realized that every moment I’ve spent volunteering in these teen mom support groups was worth it. It was worth it because Liz is worth it . . . and so is every other young mom who needs to hear the truth of Jesus’ love.

I’ve been honored to watch these stories of transformation unfold, but that’s only happened because deep down I knew there was someone out there who needed to hear. There is someone in your community who needs to hear, too. Someone who feels alone. Someone who feels unworthy. Someone who feels ashamed.

Somebody needs to hear . . . they are worth your time.

Somebody needs to hear . . . that God’s grace is for them.

Somebody needs to hear . . . that their darkest sins are not too dark for God’s light.

Somebody needs to hear . . . there is hope.

Somebody needs to hear . . . peace can come.

Somebody needs to hear . . . about a second chance through Jesus.

Somebody needs to hear there is hope, a second chance. @TriciaGoyer #teenmom

Click To Tweet

But before they can hear all those things, they must hear something from you first. Things like:

Do you want to meet for coffee?
How can I help you?

What do you need most right now?
What’s your story?

Do you want to hear how I’ve messed up?
Do you want to hear what God did?

People need to hear about Jesus, and it’s hard to take the time, energy, and even money to make that a priority.

As I leave home and drive to our Thursday night meetings, I’m lucky if I’ve slapped together peanut butter and jelly for my husband and kids. I’ve stepped out of movies to take desperate phone calls. I’ve bought food, diapers, and door prizes to draw in the young women who need help, and I’ve asked myself, “Will they ever understand?” when it seems like they won’t.

But I continue because I know that someone needs to hear . . . and if I don’t tell them who will?

I also remember being the one who needed to hear about Jesus’ love and forgiveness when I was a soon-to-be mom at age 17. Somebody talked to me, and it cost them, too. Was it worth the cost? Was I worth the cost? I feel it was. I feel I am.

“Take up your cross and follow me,” Jesus said, and in 2015 that looks a little different than what it did in Jesus’ day. It might mean asking a friend to drive your child to t-ball practice, or walking away from that pile of dishes, or spending hard-earned cash to hire a babysitter for two hours so you can take someone out to just talk.

Sacrifice is sacrifice, big or small. But transformation is TRANSFORMATION in the lives Jesus touches through you. Without us stepping out and doing our part, who’s going to tell them? Who’s going to tell her?

 

And without being told how, will they know Who to follow?

And if they don’t know Who do follow, where will they wander? Into sin, pain, darkness, shame and regret. It’s easier to shake our head at their choices than to reach out an be a friend. Because it costs us something, doesn’t it?

Will you do it? Will you speak? Will you give? Will you love?

Do you know a Teen Mom? You can pre-order my new book, Teen Mom: You are Stronger Than You Think.

(Buy a young mom or soon-to-be young mom a copy, and invite her to coffee to give it to her!)

Read the original post at forthefamily.com.

About Teen Mom

Everything changes the day you discover you’re going to be a mom. It’s not just yourself that you think about—you have a child to care for, too. While you wouldn’t trade your child for the world, some days are just hard. Baby-daddy drama, dealing with your parents, and worries about school, work, and your future slam you. Your friends can’t relate to your little family, and you wonder if God has turned His back on you, too.

Tricia Goyer understands. A mom at age 17, Tricia remembers what it felt like to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. She’s also been the coordinator of a teen mom support group for over twelve years, and she’s cheered on many young moms—from all walks of life—through their journey.

In Teen Mom, Tricia pours out her heart and shares advice for the hard things you face. She also longs to provide encouragement, reminding you that you can be the mom your child deserves—not in your own strength, but in the strength God provides.

Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Verified by MonsterInsights