Waiting for Jesus

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Dear friends, I’m always amazed by how all of God’s Word contains truths that apply to the experience of walking through infertility. Lately I’ve been reading through Jeremiah – an unusual choice for the summer, and, if we’re being honest, any time of year. It’s not what you’d call an easy read. God had had enough of seeing His people sin and chase after false gods, so He decided to discipline them, sending a drought and an enemy nation to capture and nearly destroy them. Jeremiah had the unfortunate privilege of being the bearer of this awful news. The people understandably didn’t appreciate what he had to say and cast him out of society, rejecting God’s prophet just as they’d rejected God Himself. What does this gloomy history lesson have to do with infertility? Several themes in the book echo the experiences we face waiting for a child. One main theme is the time factor. Eight times, Jeremiah poses a question starting with “How long?” He cries out to the Lord, wondering when Israel will stop rebelling, when God will stop unleashing His wrath, when he will stop mourning the downfall of his people. We can empathize with Jeremiah’s lament. Our hearts crack with sorrow, spilling tears of disappointment over our empty wombs. Though we’re not facing judgment like Israel, we yearn for God to deliver us from this painful waiting place, for Him to refresh us like spring rain cooling Israel’s drought-stricken lands. Crushed by the ache of this desire He gave us, we beg for an answer to quell our doubts: “How long will you have me wait for a child?” Friends, I remember how heavily this question weighed on me for many years, but I have to tell you: I don’t wish you could read God’s mind and discover His timeline for your family. I don’t think that info would help you the way you hope, as I know it wouldn’t have helped me the way I’d hoped. We think the answer to however many weeks or years ’till God plans to give us a child will make the wait easier, but I think all of us are wrong. We’re wrong because we’re waiting for something more than a child, something that will give us lasting peace and ultimate relief from this world of pain. We’re waiting for Jesus. Jeremiah wasn’t seeking a quick fix to his people’s worries; he wanted God to save them from sin, once and for all. He died before getting the chance to see how God answered his prayer, sending His Son to the cross to save us. He never learned the answer to “How long?” But we know it. On this side of the resurrection, we get the benefit of seeing when and how God freed His people from sin. Though we still suffer from infertility and other terrible consequences of the fall, we have Jesus today. His Spirit lives within us, guiding us in truth, comforting us with mercy. We may ache for something good, but we never ache alone. The length of time God has planned for your family isn’t as important when you already have Living Hope. Keep trusting in His plan and resting in His steadfast love for you. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its’ leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” ~ Jeremiah 17:7-8 By Jenn Hesse, Waiting in Hope Content Developer We have the best community of supporters and advocates! You guys are our people, and we’d love to hear from YOU!!! It would mean a lot to gain insight from friends who have received and/or sent our curated gift boxes. Please take a moment and take this short and sweet survey. Take the Survey