So many people I know have been dealing with infertility. I mentioned our brief struggle trying to get pregnant on here once. I can only imagine the grief and pray for the struggling. I know women in the middle of it wonder at their bodies' inability to do what they think it's supposed to do. Husbands (if they're like mine was) want to fix it and probably want their wives to be able to focus on anything but the baby they so desire. A few weeks ago the sermon reminded me of these things. A guest preacher spoke on God's ultimate plan of salvation throughout Scripture, and he used examples of infertile women God used to bring His people back to Him. I've never once made the connection. Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth... all women who had begged for a the gift of a child. All women who eventually received a child who changed history. Reading their stories, we see God's amazing plan of salvation unfolding, and in it God proves to those women (and anyone else who reads scripture) that (1) God gave them their children, just as He gives all good things. (2) God is necessary, in all things. In other words, we cannot work out life for ourselves, no matter how basic it seems. (I need to make this my mantra!)
Whatever our season is - especially one of darkness - the place to be is in prayer and worship, even when we don't feel like God has been hearing what we're saying. I've especially struggled with this in the past. Sometimes I have to be intentional about making sure church doesn't become just the place where my husband works - instead of my place of worship. Even when the last place we want to be is with other believers, that's the best place for us, for a whole host of reasons.
When we say "Your will be done," how honest are we being? When we pray for specific things (healing, safety, a "normal" child, a season of happiness, etc.), are we giving God a list of what "I need"? Or maintaining a posture of obedience, sincerely realizing that whatever the Lord's will is, it is better than anything we could know or imagine? Sometimes a season of pain or struggle is what we need to learn or remember, and to live out the fact that
"My grace is sufficient for you" and
"My power is made perfect in weakness"
Job 13:15 says "Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him." God's authority is based on His identity. We are called to trust and obey because of who God is, not what He has or is doing. We have to learn who Jesus is, so that knowledge of Him can continue to transform us into who He created us to be. John 15:1 -12 teaches me I should make this my prayer for every day:
Oh Lord teach me how to abide in and reflect You in all things!
My child is apparently learning things, too. This morning she saw a wedding on TV and told me she was going to get married to Jesus. :) Shouldn't we all be in the mindset of becoming Jesus' bride?
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