This week we are looking at the hard topic of infertility. It is hard because it is so painful, emotionally draining, and all consuming. Many have been waiting all their life to finally have children, only to be met with the bitter disappointment of infertility.
There are a number of women in the Bible who experienced infertility: Rachael (Gen. 30), Â Manoahâs wife (Judges 13), Hannah (1 Sam. 1), Michel (2Â Sam. 6), and Sarah.
Sarah had gone 90 years without having any children. That was a lot of waiting. I imagine there were tears and heartache. We know there was a lack of trust in Godâs faithfulness and goodness as she gave her maidservant to her husband in order to obtain a child. Perhaps by the time she was 90 she had resigned herself to the fact that she was never going to be a mother. We know she was wrong.
In this study we chose to focus on Sarah because in the midst of her infertility story we read a very important truth…
âIs anything too hard for the Lord?â
The answer is, âOf course not!â The Lord can do anything according to his will.
He can heal bodies in ways that baffle doctors. He can give children to couples who never thought it was possible.
But there is something else that the Lord can do. Something, perhaps, even more miraculous. He can give real joy and contentment in the midst of infertility.
Expecting the Impossible
Contentment and joy in the midst of difficulty and suffering – something as unlikely as the barren womb conceiving a baby – can seem like an impossibility. But remember that with God nothing is impossible.
His power is stronger than any suffering. He can heal the sick, raise the dead, and change the heart of a sinner. He is able to give contentment and joy to the brokenhearted because He can create something out of nothing.
We must draw close to Him in order to lay our hands on it. We must trust the promises He gives in his Word. We must come to Him with our hurts in prayer, and we must praise Him in the midst of tears because He is worthy.
Then, when we are near, we can wait â expecting what we may have thought was impossible. In your affliction I want to encourage you to wait confidently for God to work in your life. I pray that He brings to you a joy that sits deep in your heart and a contentment that rests on the truth that God is good all the time.
Looking to Jesus,
Week 3 Video:
Week 3 Challenge:Â This week, the challenge is simply to spend some extensive time in prayer really pouring out all of your pain, frustrations, disappointments, and fears as it relates to infertility. If you yourself do not struggle with this, then intercede for someone you know who desperately wants a child but whose arms remain empty.
Week 3 Reading Plan:
Week 3 Memory Verse:
Currently going through the absolute worst time in my marriage and family situation and finding contentment and peace in it all has so been my prayer every single day. I am 26, my husband is 28 and the last few months of our lives have probably been the ultimate fall from grace. Husband lost his really great job (he was terminated) right after our baby was born. Had to move from our safe and comfortable neighborhood in the suburbs back to the city. Currently separated and both back living with our parents. We have 3 young babies together–2 years old, 1 year old and a 4 month old. He gets them on the weekend, but I have them all week. I am married to a foolish man. đ My husband is so so so foolish and it just breaks my heart because it is a huge reason why we are currently in this situation. He has done and continues to do some really foolish things and yet I still continue to try to have faith and believe God can work in his heart. This is really only half the story, but I just wanted to say thank you so much for these studies. I have been reading them all since the study on wisdom (another great prayer of mine in dealing with someone so difficult and foolish :(. Some days are more difficult than others to hold it together, but God has been faithful in that He allows me to have peace and be content right now. Even right now 💗
Dear SG, you, your husband and your children will be in my prayers this week. May God continue to hold you close!
I will be praying for you and for your family since my granddaughter is in a similar situation. She is not married, but has 2 young children and is also currently living with her mom, which is very difficult. I will be lifting up your “impossible situation.”
Sweetness, my heart breaks just reading your story. But I am comforted because we have Jesus. And in today’s verse ,God asks a very important question; Is anything too hard for the Lord? My answer is nothing Lord. So I bring you and your family to the author of marriage and the family and plead that He restores everything and more. You and your family be made whole; body, soul, and Spirit. That He fixes everything that needs to be fixed to the glory of His name alone. I pray for newness, for healing and for oneness because nothing is impossible, nothing is too hard for Him to do. Much love honey.
Praying for you and your family.
God bless you beautiful ladies.
I understand you are very upset with your situation. But please be wary of calling your husband a fool – Matthew 5:22. I pray you will find peace in the situation and see God guiding you through the difficulties you are facing.
Yes, SG, I agree with Lucy. It is ok for us to recognize areas of weakness and sin in our husbands, but so important to focus on any good qualities they have now AND see prophetically as God sees: who they can become in His power and grace. Even when separation is biblical and necessary, you carry great influence, including the influence of prayer. If you don’t have Stormie Omartian’s book, “The Power of a Praying Wife,” you should get it. Even if all you do is read the daily prayers to God for your husband, there is a supernatural effect.
Saying a prayer for your family. My husband and I when we were first married found ourselves in a not good situation. I know how that can feel. I will pray that the Lord will guide both of you to make the best decisions for your family.
You are in my prayers! Your story hits home with me bc I’ve walked in your shoes for 13 years BUT I’m her to tell you to KEEP praying, KEEP your faith bc HE IS faithful!! Begin to pray for God to transform your husbands heart. Allow the Lord to use you as his instrument during this time to minister God’s love to your husband. This is the hard part bc our flesh wants them to hurt the way they have hurt us but God will give you the grace to do this. My marriage is a testimony of God doing the impossible!! We have overcome things that I NEVER thought we would but God is in the healing business!! God transformed my husbands heart and provided the healing that my heart needed. That is only something our father can do. Hang in there and cling to his word. Stand firm on the truths you know. This bible study helped me in more ways than I can count and continues to do so. God has spoken to me so often through these precious ladies! Remind yourself that he IS a good good father and he IS holding you in the palm of your hand. Go back to Isaiah 41:10 and memorize it. It was a life verse for me. Hope this encourages you and I will be praying for you and your family!
I tried to write that he “is foolish” (and not just outright call him a fool lol đ in my own attempt to not “name-call” and in being completely honest about my husband I’ve been desperately praying for. I am not much of a talker, but when I do, I just kind of put things plainly, but I do apologize. I was trying to put it nicely as possible considering everything he has done. He has just done some extremely foolish things that most wouldn’t believe.
Sometimes I ask myself if this is a dream (nightmare). I just like to call things what they are and my husband is honestly just being very foolish. I will take back calling him a foolish man, but will say he is behaving foolishly to the detriment of our family. I so can’t thank you all enough for your encouragement and all of your responses here. I will keep in mind about not speaking badly about him and not wanting to hurt him as he’s hurt me. I am so looking forward to how God is going to move in our family. God bless you ladies ?
Yesterday I was crying on church and praying for joy in my heart while I wait for a child or even if I never get it. God has definitely something for me to learn in this emptiness.
Oh Mimi darling. He does have something for you to learn. Push pass the pain, dwell on His word, seek His face through prayers and you’ll come out stronger than ever. For with God nothing is too hard for Him. Much love.
Mimi- that’s such a hard place to be in! You are so right- God is with you and has wonderful plans for you. Stay positive and prayerful. I’m praying for you.
This definitely draws close to home as my husband and I have been waiting a little over 4 years for a child through adoption. We currently have a 4 yr old bio daughter, and she is the joy of our lives, but we desperately want more children and have felt God call us to adoption. Starting to wonder if we are supposed to really try and conceive as we haven’t really been doing that thinking we would adopt. Even though we aren’t going through infertility, per say, it feels like it, and at times feels like I’ve put it on myself. Really going to continue to cry out to the Lord praying that he gives us guidance.
Dear Bethany, the Lord sees you and your family and He will answer. Just keep trusting. I pray for His guidance for your family. Much love honey
This is a very touchy subject for a lot of women (& men). I love the promise given in our SOAP that nothing is too hard for the Lord. One sentence really stands out to me in todayâs post âHis power is stronger than any suffering.â I am personally acquainted with the sorrow of infertility and the pain of miscarriage. Many women are. Some choose never to share their experiences because it hurts, badly. Well-meaning friends/family often told me not to worry, to trust Jesus, and I would get pregnant. They never stopped to contemplate with meâŠwhat if it wasnât Godâs plan for me to be a biological mother here on earth? We have a little boy in Heaven. He went to live with Jesus when I was 12 weeks along. What about that? THAT is trial through fire. THAT is where faith enters. THAT is where one learns to trust and find JOY in life. We are now parents to two beautiful daughters, adopted through foster care. God knows. Our Father understands. He truly does answer prayer, sometimes itâs just in ways we never would have imagined.
Oh dear honey, such an awesome, uplifting testimony. Am so encouraged that God answers our prayers. It might not be how we want it but it’s always the best. Your story will encourage all who reads it. God bless you honey for sharing with us. May His blessings always rest on you and your family. Much love my dear.
I struggled with infertility for years and feeling like God did not hear my prayers or had forgotten about me. However it was during those years of desparate pleading with God that I drew closer to Him and truly gave it to him. It was my plan to get pregnant and have a child, but His plan was so much better because when I gave up my control and put it completely in His hands, he showed off in HUGE ways. I am the mother of 2 amazing kiddos that I did not give birth to but that God gave me through adoption. Their adoptions happened in ways that can only be explained as God’s hand at work. So many that stood by us during those years were amazed at the miracles that happened. I could write a book about all the miracles He performed to bring my family to where it is today. For those lucky enough to witness adoption we get a glimpse in what it means to be adopted by God the Father. I hated during my years of struggle to hear the phrase “God has a plan, don’t worry” however now it is one of my favorite phrases because He does and when we allow Him total control He will bring us joy that we could not imagine whether it is becoming a mother or being a mother figure to those around us. God really does have the best plan in place for our lives, we have to let go and let Him have total control and quit trying to put our plans into His.
God does truly bless abundantly those who wait on the Lord. Your story is a wonderful example of faith in the heartache of waiting. Adoption is such a great opportunity to share your love.
Oh honey, how we hate to hear the words that are true. Great, great testimony. I am so so encouraged. Thank you for sharing with us. And your kids are extremely lucky to have you as their mama. Your joy and trust in God is so contagious darling. God bless you and keep you and yours. May His face continuously shine on you and yours. May His mercies, the sure mercies of David never depart from you. Amen.
Amazing stories and that’s what God is all about, He creates a great story in us to share hope with others. Even through my sinful actions and disobedience He allowed me to be a mom to 2 additional children. What a great God we serve and whether it’s infertility or fertility God is merciful with each one of us and it’s ALL according to HIS WILL and nothing less !!
I went through a similar situation some years ago. My husband sounds much like yours. We got back together, but everything was off. I was angry, hurt and scarred. But I knew we wouldnât make it if I could not forgive him. I desperately prayed one night, Lord take this from me. The next morning, I felt rejuvenated. Every now and then, I would pray about this. And he always answered my prayer. He alway took it from me again. I so feel for you. You will be I. My prayers.