What Word Overcomes Discouragement?
When our expectations of having a family have not been met, mounting disappointments can cause despair. We wonder if God is listening. Is He there for us? Let’s chat about it.
Propelled by a Weighty Word
Allow me to share with you a few details about how God listened to my prayers. After six and a half years of surgeries and tests, my doctor shook his head as he looked through my latest lab results and said, “I’m sorry.”
Conceiving and carrying a pregnancy looked impossible. Treatments to offset hormonal imbalance from endometriosis had not worked.
I lifted up my pain to God, “Oh Lord, is this it? Did I get this far to learn that my body’s not cut out to have children? Help me. Nothing is impossible with You.” (Luke 1:37)
My husband comforted me as I blubbered, “I can’t do this anymore.” Striving to have children seemed fruitless.
Brian swallowed hard and gently offered me simple wisdom, “This is so frustrating and I don’t know why it’s happening to us, but you have to have hope.”
Hope? A small word with much weight. The doctor had not had any of it to give that morning, but Brian was right. I knew of God’s faithfulness from the Bible and blessings in my life —I had to accept things as He wanted them to be.
We prayed with hope and asked God to give us a signal about how to proceed. God does not always give us what we want, but He does have a plan for what is best for our situation. He responded to our cry in an unexpected way. You can read more about it in the About section on this site.
Making Hope a Part of Your Journey is Essential
When it seems that doors are being slammed shut, avoid yielding to discouragement. Lay your hope before God. Hope is the part of faith that focuses upon the future expectations of what God has in mind—on earth and in heaven.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on
your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
(Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
You can pray now to the God of hope in the Holy Bible:
Lord God, You are our Creator and the source of all wisdom and power. You are our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NIV) Thank you for loving me and (say your husband’s name) and wanting what is best for us.
As You are all-seeing and all-knowing, You have a comprehensive view of our fertility situation. Nothing is impossible with You. (Luke 1:37 NIV)
I surrender our current diagnosis and disappointments to You. Help me to interrupt negative messages of failure in my mind by saying ‘STOP in the name of Jesus’, and then refocus my thoughts on the joyful path You have in store for us.
You promised your people in the Old Testament: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
And in the New Testament: …we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 NIV) These words give me hope for this difficult moment facing us.
Your plans are always for our good. You can orchestrate a bigger story for us which we cannot envision now. Fulfill our desire, or redirect us to align with Your will. Thank You for hearing my prayer in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Moving Forward…
- Ask yourself this: Is my hope in God’s plan reflected in the faith I demonstrate to others?
- Try this challenge: Memorize Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28 quoted in the prayer above.
- Share this link with a friend who might benefit from this post.
Peace be with you until next time, Kimberly
P.S. Have you been able to download the FREE guide “4-steps to Overcoming Infertility Fears and Worries”? Clearing your head of negative messages will allow you to persevere with a positive mindset.
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