Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
When our son and daughter-in-love found out they had a minute chance of having biological children, we were all devastated. Infertility isn’t often addressed from a future grandmother’s point of view, but watching your child be filled with such heartbreak and face closed doors is a pain for which I wasn’t prepared. Yet amidst such disappointment, the Lord has drawn me closer.
For years I’ve held our son and daughter-in-love’s sorrow near to my heart. I’ve wrestled hard with the Lord over this diagnosis, and He’s okay with that. I’ll admit that I’ve even gotten a little judgy, pointing fingers at others wondering, Why them and not us? Yes, these thoughts have bubbled up, yet God welcomes my questions, my cries, and even my dashed dreams.
As the months turned to years, we were invited to claim Galatians 6:9 as our pillar of hope: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
With that goal, I’ve decided to guide my heart of sadness toward declarations of praise for the Lord’s faithfulness and to walk with those journeying through silent suffering. Does this change our kids’ prognosis? No. Are there still questions and uncertainty? Absolutely. But I persevere and trust in His goodness. I choose to believe His promise and hope in a plentiful harvest because it will come at the Lord’s “proper time.” I have no idea what that will look like, but I wait as God continues to write the story for my children.
While He delights in showing His power through miracles, my expectant prayers have shifted: Lord, please expand their family in any way that brings You the most glory. This is hard, but it’s all for You.
And shouldn’t that be our cry every day? With work or neighbors, family or friends?
Show me how to bring You the most glory, Lord. Every single choice is all for You.
Let’s not become weary in our wait. His harvest is coming.
As someone who cannot have children, and have family members who have had infertility issues, too, what a blessing you are to your son and daughter in law that you pray for them and support them like this. Not everyone has that. Thank you for loving her like she is your own.
I LOVE your prayer! I prayed it. Also, it reminds me of a similar prayer I often pray: Lord use my life and testimony as much as You can imagine for Your kingdom and glory and more than I can hope for or imagine. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Jen,
Thank you for sharing… Such a hard struggle!
Dear Jen…..You must have been into my mind when you wrote these encouraging words. Avery close friend of mind found out that her daughter and her husband were not going to be able to have children. This 33 year old woman was in menopause and there were no eggs. What an awful situation to have to try and get through. Her daughter would call her every day crying and saying things to the point that my friend did not know what to say to her anymore. She does have 2 children from her husband’s first wife, but she wants one of hers and her husband. Finally, the doctors suggested that she go for therapy. She did, but still grieves for the child she cannot have. Now, for me, Your “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up. ” I am weary and I have always tried to help others, forgetting about myself. I live in a facility for Seniors with 100 residents who mostly all have problems as they are all older than me (I am 78 ). This place is the most poorly run place I have ever seen and during my work years I was a manager for 35 years and a Payroll Supervisor for 10 years before for 300 Truck drivers. This was an eye opening, but a big learning experience that helped me get the job I loved for the 35 years. These managers have no respect for we residents. As long as you can pay the rent which was just raised again this month. We have now some people that should not be here. They need to be somewhere that they get more care. I can’t tell you how many people I have seen, come here perfectly fine and in the 2+ years I have been here, without no care available have ending up dying. I am weary but I refuse to give up. I may have to slow down, but my Holy Spirit whispers that I have more to give. So I have taken a few days respite where I stay and eat in my apartment and do what I can to get my Christmas decorations down and the old ones back up. I am going to go down for lunch today and see how it goes. The food here leaves a lot to be desired. All processed, nothing fresh and the same things over and over. I will pray frequently today to tell God, I am not giving up, just backing off a little and thinking of myself more. I am not 35 anymore and my mind does just not grasp that, but my body does. Thank you Jen for this perfect devotion for me today. I am truly sorry for your son and his wife and the news that have everyone knowing that there is nothing they can do but wonder why this has happened. I will pray that somehow maybe something else will come up that they didn’t expect and perhaps their family will expand in a different way. I send my love to you Jen. Your words have convinced me, NOT to give up. I will tell Jesus this today……….Betsy Basile