I have married friends who can’t get pregnant and have children. At least right now.
“In the United States, among married women aged 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about 1 in 5 (19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Also, about 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term” (https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility/).
It’s a hard journey emotionally, physically and spiritually. A roller coaster of tests, results, trying, waiting, hoping, different tests, different results, different trying all while wondering, “Why, God? Why are others blessed with children but not us?”
Maybe that’s you, or someone dear to you. It’s hard, but it’s not impossible, at least for God. That was also Abraham and his wife Sarah, whose infertility story fills a few chapters of the Bible.
I’m sure they went through all the tests of those day, and the trying, the hoping, the waiting and wondering and couldn’t get pregnant, couldn’t have a family with kids.
Despite that—actually because of it—Abraham and Sarah’s faith grew from letting infertility get in the way of God, to letting God get in the way of their infertility, their life, their family, their dreams.
God came and promised that he would bless them with a miracle son. God rules over infertility and also over this fact that “Sarah was past the age of childbearing” (Genesis 18:11). They struggled, but they believed.
Married couples struggling to get pregnant have plenty of promises from God. He hears all the prayers. He wipes all the tears. He works through all the doctors and tests. He has his ways that may not make sense, and that’s okay. That’s why we have faith. Like Abraham.
“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:19-21).
Facts to us are only footnotes to God. Feelings in us are big opportunities for God to fill our faith with what only he can do. It’s far beyond our understanding, and that’s good.
God answers the faith-prayers of every couple, in different ways, at different times always for one reason: they are his own family. He’s their Father and will take care of them perfectly. Like he took care of Abraham’s family.
Instead of letting infertility get in the way of God, let God get in the way of infertility. Let him in perfect love open up options or close doors. Then you are living confidently within his answers, his guidance and his peace which create the best version of your family as God’s family.
PRAYER: God, I pray today for married couples who are struggling with infertility, trying their best to have children and also trust in your way. Encourage them in faith to never give up on you, and to let your way be the best and only way. Amen.
THE MIRACLE SON: Are you jealous that the virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus, and you didn’t? Are you jealous that Joseph served as Jesus’ earthly father, but you can’t? Of course not. In your mind and heart, that is God’s work!
Jesus is a miracle son. A miracle of God. You’re good with that.
Abraham was good with that, too. In the promise of his own son. Well, he struggled a bit, but through the struggle he realized that the promises of God are God’s work for us to believe, not for us to manage.
What about family planning? What about the family legacy? What about not being able to attend youth sports and feeling empty in a home? Abraham left all those to God and focused on his faith in God’s promises.
As if God was saying, “Live with faith in the son, and everything else will come true.”
So the miracle son, Isaac, saved Abraham’s family, and saved the Lord’s plan of salvation. One descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be another miracle Son born centuries later of a virgin from Abraham’s family. Jesus would save all families, all nations of the world, bringing the Lord’s plan of salvation to all.
Live with faith in that Son, Jesus Christ, and everything else will come true. His way becomes your better way. His death becomes your better life. His resurrection becomes your sure hope of heaven.
Believe in the Son, Jesus Christ. He lives, and because he loves you he also lives as the Son in your heart and home and family. He’s the miracle Son. Be good with that, and everything else will come true.
