48. Family, Discernment & Walking with God
Open Womb, Prevention, and Trusting His Provision
There is a quiet question that many women carry—sometimes whispered, sometimes wrestled with in the stillness of their hearts:
How do we make “responsible” decisions when it comes to family size?
How do we balance wisdom, stewardship, and an open heart toward life?
At what point is it… too much?
And beneath those questions, there is often an even deeper one: What does it actually look like to trust God with our family?
This isn’t just a logistical conversation.
It’s not simply about numbers, spacing, or capacity.
This is sacred ground.
There Is No Formula
One of the most freeing truths is this: There is no universal “right number” of children.
There is no line where responsibility ends and “too much” begins.
There is no formula to follow, no chart to consult, no standard that fits every family.
This is something the Lord writes uniquely for each home.
For some, that may look like a large family.
For others, a smaller one.
For many, it looks like seasons—of growth, of pause, of stretching, of stillness.
But what remains constant is this:
God is not asking you to follow a formula.
He is inviting you into relationship.
A Testimony of Provision
If I’m honest, there have been many seasons in our own family where, on paper, it didn’t make sense.
Raising six children—and desiring more—has required us to look beyond what we can calculate or control.
And yet, over and over again, we have witnessed something undeniable:
God provides.
Not always in excess.
Not always in the ways we expected.
But always in what we’ve needed.
Over time, that truth has shifted something deep within me.
Not blind trust… but lived, experienced trust. The kind that is built not on theory, but on testimony.
What Grows in a Larger Family
One of the most common concerns I hear is this:
“Won’t having more children take away from the ones you already have?”
And while resources may be divided in a practical sense, what I have witnessed is something far deeper expanding.
Connection.
Adaptability.
Shared responsibility.
A deep-rooted sense of we’re in this together.
Our children are not lacking.
They are learning how to love, support, and function as a family unit.
They are gaining something our culture doesn’t always measure:
a richness that cannot be bought, scheduled, or outsourced.
Choosing Simplicity
Part of walking this out has required intentional choices.
We’ve simplified.
We don’t try to do everything.
We protect white space in our days.
We allow room for rest, imagination, and connection.
Each child may pursue interests, but not at the expense of the family rhythm.
Because I’ve found that it’s often in the unscheduled, quiet moments that the deepest growth happens.
And if your children’s lives look different than your own childhood… Different does not mean less.
The Deeper Question: Discernment
At its core, this conversation is not about numbers.
It’s about discernment.
It’s about asking:
“Lord, what are You asking of us?”
And then trusting that if He is the one leading,
He will also be the one who sustains.
“The Lord will guide you always;
He will satisfy your needs… and will strengthen your frame.”
— Isaiah 58:11
We are not called to orchestrate every outcome for our children.
The same God who calls them into existence
is faithful to guide their paths.
Open Womb vs. Prevention
Naturally, this leads to another question many women wrestle with:
Does trusting God mean having an “open womb”?
Is preventing wrong? Is it a lack of faith?
These are tender questions. And they deserve to be held with care.
Because just like birth…
this isn’t black and white.
For some families, an “open womb” means not preventing at all—trusting God fully with timing and number.
For others, there are seasons of intentional, prayerful pause—where they feel led to space or prevent pregnancy for a time.
And here is the grounding truth:
This is not about a rule.
This is about relationship.
Because it is entirely possible to say you have an “open womb” while still operating from fear, pressure, or identity.
And it is also possible to prayerfully prevent while walking in deep obedience and peace.
God is not after a label…. He is after your heart.
A Posture of Surrender
The question is not simply:
“Are we open or are we preventing?”
The deeper questions are:
Are we surrendered?
Are we listening?
Are we willing to obey—no matter the direction?
Because true surrender means this:
If He asks you to trust Him with more—you will.
If He asks you to wait—you will.
If He asks you to release control in either direction—you will.
That posture goes far deeper than any label ever could.
Rejecting Pressure
I have seen women feel pressure from both sides.
Pressure to have more—to prove their faith.
Pressure to limit—to appear responsible.
But neither pressure is the voice of the Lord.
“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”
— 1 Corinthians 14:33
His leading is steady.
Clear.
Grounded in peace—even when it stretches you.
Walking It Out with Him
In our own journey, this has never been about following a rule.
It has been about staying in conversation with God.
There have been seasons of openness.
Seasons of questioning.
Moments of stretching… and moments of stillness.
But the thread through it all has been this:
We want Him to lead.
Not fear.
Not culture.
Not even our own plans.
Just Him.
An Invitation
If you are navigating this right now, I want to gently invite you into something simple, but powerful: Bring it before the Lord.
Not once.
But continually.
Lay down your desires.
Lay down your fears.
Lay down the opinions of others.
And ask:
“Lord, what are You asking of us in this season?”
Then wait.
Listen.
Watch for peace.
Because He is faithful to guide you—
not just in the big picture of your family,
but in the timing, the spacing, and the details.
Sacred Ground
This is not something to debate or defend.
This is something to steward.
With humility.
With trust.
With open hands.
And wherever you land—
whether in a season of openness or a season of prevention—
What matters most is this:
You are walking it out with Him.
And you were never meant to navigate this alone. 🤍
Stay Wild & Free,
-Brandy
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Rooted in Christ, Fearless Birth Sanctuary embodies a holistic approach that champions autonomous, physiological birth, creating a secure and sacred space for you to flourish with confidence and joy. This sanctuary invites you to embark on a journey where you can learn, prepare, and fully embrace the profound depths of your own strength and resilience. Here, you are empowered to experience birth as a divine design, rooted in joy, autonomy, and the unwavering support of your faith.
