Don’t want to have any more children Don’t want to have any more children

Dear Pastor,

I have six children. My husband and I have struggled with them.

When I was pregnant with my fifth child, I told my doctor that I would love to do a tubal ligation operation. He said that I was still young and although I had these children, my husband may die and if I should get married again, my new husband might want to have a child. He convinced me not to do the operation. Now, I am pregnant and I regret that I did not go forward with the operation. Is there anything in the Bible against a woman preventing herself from becoming pregnant?

My husband has a very good job and he can afford to support the children, but psychologically it's hard on us. We cannot always travel together and our house is always noisy. If I could live my life again I would not want to have more than two children.

My oldest daughter says that she does not want to have any children. I hope that she will change her mind but she has seen the struggles that I have had with her siblings.

Initial Withheld,

Dear Initial withheld,

Your doctor did not give you bad advice. You should have been more careful.

You could have used other methods of birth control because you know if a woman is in good health and is having unprotected sex, she may get pregnant. So don't blame your doctor.

The Bible is not against birth control but some religious organisations are against artificial birth control. Persons would have to control themselves and work with their spouse to limit the number of children they can adequately support and not blame anybody when they become careless. I hope your daughter will change her mind when she gets married and I hope that she will decide to have children.

Couples with children are blessed, especially if the father and mother are living together and taking care of their children. Children are an inheritance from the Lord. Couples should not have so many children if they cannot afford to maintain them, but the Bible says a man who has children is blessed of the Lord.

Pastor