Has God Left Us to this Fate

By: Peter Stone

"Thanks for coming to see me tonight," Pastor David said. "Though it's been four months since your loss, your long faces tell me that you're not out of the woods yet."

I struggled to meet the pastor's gaze as I sat despondently beside my wife on the sofa. Losing our first child due to the ectopic pregnancy, coupled with haunting memories of my wife's battered mind and body in the operation's wake, weighed heavily upon me. Alas, there was more. "I'm afraid we've just received bad news."

The Pastor sat forward, concerned. "Oh, have there been further developments?"

"We had a post-op checkup at the hospital yesterday, and the doctor told us that due to Shoko's abnormal period condition, the chances are that any further pregnancies will also be ectopic." Translation: 'Sorry, you'll never be able to have children.' The dreams and hopes of a lifetime, dashed to pieces against the rocks of a hospital clinic.

"I see," the pastor said, before turning to my wife. "How are you feeling, Shoko?"

"Spiritually, I'm going backwards. I go to church, but everything feels hollow, dark, and without meaning. I don't even want to go any more," she said.

I squeezed her hand, a futile gesture. What comfort could I give a woman who had lost her first child? A woman so humble in spirit that she apologised to me for her condition. I had spoken words of affirmation, that she was my delight, whether she bore children or not. But my words washed over her and were gone.

"How about you, Peter?"

"I can't shake off this feeling that God has left us to our fate, and will do nothing to help us have children." This was not an admission I wanted to make to the minister who had married us two years ago, but it was the truth. Doubts, like a fierce squall, battered me daily.

Pastor David opened his Bible and smiled. "I thought you might be going through something like this. As I was praying for you this week, the Lord gave me this word for you: Joshua 1:5-9 (NIV) 'No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.'"

The Word of the Lord fell like rain upon the parched surfaces of our hearts. Immediately, hope returned and our minds were renewed. The desperate, frantic appeals we had been throwing at God lately for a normal pregnancy faded away. Instead, we placed our hope in God Himself, and delighted in Him. This was not done to get something in return, but as an act of worship--an end in itself.

"God knows what you need," David said, "and His Word states clearly that children are a blessing from Him. Trust Him to work this out in His own good time."

Having had no success by January the following year, Pastor David recommended that we seek medical assistance to have children. But before taking such a step, my wife and I went to Jesus in prayer, and confessed our desire to have a child by His enabling rather than due to medical assistance. Jesus' response was to give us a tangible gift of faith. Two weeks later, Shoko was with child--our daughter. Another six years passed and she was with child again--our son.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Joshua 1:9 (NIV) "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

cornerstonethefoundation.blogspot.com/

Please Share and Bookmark this Article