I know I post on this stuff a lot but I'm glad that REDBOOK is taking some initiative in the campaign to"end the shame and secrecy of infertiltiy". Here's their link to the most recent article: http://www.redbookmag.com/health-wellness/advice/dealing-with-infertility
In the same vein, my church has been going through The Story and this week is about Hannah and how God remebered her after a long time of her trying to get pregnant. Hannah prayed for a son saying that she would give him back to the Lord to become a priest. When it says that God remembered her it doesn't mean the He forgot her, but rather that the time was the right time for God's purposes to answer her prayer. Hannah honored her promise and gave her son, Samuel back to God by bringing him to the temple when he was weaned. After that God blessed Hannah with other children as well.
Its interesting to me that there are many stories in the Bible of women experiencing infertility. They all waiting on God and He eventually answered their prayers when the time was right. The story of Sarah is not as comforting to me because if I had to wait till I was 90 something to finally have a baby I think I would just rather die, but times were different. Anyways, when people talk about these stories it is usually brought up that in these times, in these cultures a women's only worth was based on her having children. Often times we see these poor women getting ridiculed and teased by the other women around them who already have had children. My point is that it seems like people say that as if its not true today. To a certain point that is correct- women can do so much more in our society and don't have to rely on marriage or children to be a part of it. However, I think that at least for women that do want children, there is still a feeling of being less than a women when you are trying to have children and cannot. You feel like your body is failing you and you are failing your husband in your efforts to expand your family.
The thing I love about these Bible stories is that in each of them the woman's husband loved her more than any other wives he had (since back then they had more than one) despite the fact that they had children from their other wives. God favored these women because they were faithful to him. God is always faithful to those who love Him and we are all His favorite children. Fathers love to give good gifts to their children. Refer to the scripture Luke 11:11-13 where Jesus talks about how even earthly parents want to give their children not just their needs, but their wants, so how much more would our Heavenly Father give us?
I take comfort in a few things through this process of ours. For one, I have a wonderful, supportive and loving husband. Two, God puts all the deep desires of our hearts there in the first place, so we can trust that He will fulfill those desires when the time is right. Three, just because I'm going through this infertility journey right now does not mean that I am loved less or doing anything "wrong". Finally, God is so faithful. He has been there for me through my whole life, through the worst times in my life-including infertility. If I didn't have Him I don't know what I'd be or where.
