Christian ladies TTC, we can encourage one another.

[Godsjewel]

Hello ladies!!!

I'm going on a much needed mini vacation to Lake Tahoe and won't be able to check in on you all. I pray good things for each of you and look forward to hearing some positive stories when I come back on Sunday.

 

[Godsjewel]

Leaving you with my favorite scripture before I go...

And we know, ALL things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

 

[minimoocow]

Hello ladies!!!

I'm going on a much needed mini vacation to Lake Tahoe and won't be able to check in on you all. I pray good things for each of you and look forward to hearing some positive stories when I come back on Sunday.

you want good news before Sunday?! No pressure then . . . come on ladies BFPs required!!!

ha ha - sorry I know that's not what you meant but it made me smile. have a good vacation x

 

[Jumik]

Hey Ladies, I've been AWOL for sooo long. I had a horrible first trimester and was on extended sick leave. Practically cut off from the world. I am doing much better now. I'll provide an update tomorrow.

 

[Rdy2bAMommy]

So, month 4 of ttc. Lord, I can't make this happen on my own. Gotta move on. No more tears cause its not worth it. It'll happen when it happens.
is coming faithfully, though.

 

[BRK06]

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3



I love my girlfriends. I love doing life with friends who “get me.” I love having tangles of conversations over hot coffee that are stranded together with light-hearted laughter, rich revelations, loads of love, treasures of time and gobs of grace.

Though sharing beautiful life-moments is always fun, some of the most powerful blessings of friendship for me have been found in broken places. In the trenches. Those places where our troubles and fears scream loudly and long to be quieted by the understanding heart of a friend. Times when we rise up to encourage one another with God’s promises, share reminders of His truth, extend challenges to believe, offer prayers for problems and speak hope to a sister who’s hurting.

A few years ago, after a long conversation with a girlfriend who was in a painfully broken place, I was burdened. Heavily. Her shared-pain had become my pain. I ached for her to experience the hope of Christ in and through her hurt. Though she knew the Lord, she felt like her prayers were falling on deaf divine ears. She needed me to listen, to cry with her and to take her right back to Jesus. As I prayed for my friend and considered her burdens, I was inspired to write a song of encouragement. I later co-wrote the song below with her in mind.

I’m not sure where this message of hope finds you. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that God cares and that He is compassionate. Sometimes we just need to be reminded that God sees us, knows us, hears us and loves us. That He is faithful, powerful and never wastes a hurt. Perhaps you need a word of encouragement today. Perhaps you know a friend who needs this word. The best thing we can do for our friends is to love them and point them to Jesus.

Allow the words of this song, Healer of the Broken to be the prayer on your heart as you read:





“Healer Of The Broken”
by Gwen Smith and Sue C. Smith

Oh wounded heart
My hurting friend
Desperate and afraid
You’re not invisible
Someone knows the pain you’re in
You can run to Him

The Healer of the broken
The friend to every sinner
Who knows the sorrow of each scar
Every time you call on
The Savior who is waiting
He will meet you where you are
And heal your broken heart

He knows your name
Each midnight fear
When you try to hide
Or fight for one more breath
Love will be your safe retreat
He will give you peace

In every valley
In every pain
Jesus is with you
Just call His name
Call His name



Dear Lord, Thank you for reminding me that You hear the cries of your children and that You are a God who loves to bring beauty to our broken. Please meet me where I am today and give me the grace to grow through these trials.

In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

 

[beckysprayer]

Hello ladies!!!

I'm going on a much needed mini vacation to Lake Tahoe and won't be able to check in on you all. I pray good things for each of you and look forward to hearing some positive stories when I come back on Sunday.

Have fun! Praying for a safe and relaxing trip!

So, month 4 of ttc. Lord, I can't make this happen on my own. Gotta move on. No more tears cause its not worth it. It'll happen when it happens.
is coming faithfully, though.

So sorry to hear AF is coming Praying that next month will be your month!

 

[xxx_faithful]

Hi Godsjewel

I thought i would write you a message and say thankyou. Thankyou for for being obedient to God when he lead you into creating this forum. Without your love for God, us christian ladies wouldn't be gathering together spiritually and lifting one another up during our times of hardships and sharing times of joy.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What do you find is the best way of connecting and staying at peace with God through the days of frustration? Is your current situation kept quiet between your friends? Are you on any fertility meds? Have you tried any alternate treatments etc? I would love to hear any testimony's or revelations in your life regarding fertility and your relationship with God. I recently read you had a dream you were pregnant. I LOVE that, I truly believe dreams are a way of God showing us what is yet to come and letting us know everything will be okay

Xx

Hi Sweetie!

Praise God! Besides BFPs, there’s nothing more that I like to hear than when ladies are getting the encouragement they need through this thread. Funny thing is, I “talk” more on here than I do in person…lol!!!

As you can see from my signature, I’ve been on this journey for quite some time. The days where I start to get discouraged, frustrated, sad, mad, angry and all those other fun emotions, I do my best to focus on the things God has blessed me with. I’m in good health, I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful stepdaughter who I call my own, good family, I have a job, I can see, hear, smell, jump, run, speak, live in a country where I can openly serve my Lord and Savior. If you really take the time to sit and think about all the good things, all those other emotions tend to disappear.

All my close friends know what I’m going through, but 99% of them can’t truly understand how I feel since they all got pregnant with no issues. It’s hard to talk to them about it since they say the things you don’t really want to hear…”Just relax, it will happen”, “maybe you’re stressing too much”, “just get your mind off ttc”…really??? I’ve made it a point not share my ttc journey with those friends. I have 2 good friends that have suffered through this journey and came out in the end with children. One of them, the doctor told couldn’t have children and just recently had her 4th, the other the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with her and she was trying for 3 yrs and became pregnant. She said she focused on the story of Hannah daily and thanked God that what He did for Hannah, that He was also going to do for her. She also said everyday out loud that her womb was blessed. She had a baby boy.

I have had 6 IUI’s, been on 4 rounds of Femara and 3 rounds of clomid. I have endometriosis and have had 2 laparoscopies to take out cysts that were forming on my right ovary, burn off any endometriosis and scar tissue, one in 2009 and the other last October. Both times the doctors where very optimistic that I would get pregnant soon after since everything was “cleaned out”. They tell me they don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t be able to get pregnant.

There was this lady that came to my mom’s church and at the end of the service she said she felt led to pray for the women there that were suffering from infertility, my mom went up there and laughs when telling me this story because she’s like, “I’m a fifty something year old woman walking up to the front and people are looking at me like a crazy woman! Lol” She told the lady that she was standing in for her daughter (ME!), so the lady put her hands on my mom and started praying, a couple minutes later a lady came up to her and whispered in her ear, “babies”. Then my sis-in-law that was in the same service stood in for me as well and the lady told her, “someone in your family is going to be pregnant”. I think hearing that helps in strengthening my faith. I’ve said it many times before, I have asked God to take away this desire if it is not in His will for my life to conceive, but He hasn’t and I am believing it’s there because one day I will have the desire of my heart. For now, I’m blessed to have this forum to be able to share and receive encouragement on my not so happy days.

One day I will be able to share the news of a BFP, but for now, I'm happy to be able to witness God's goodness and faithfullness in this thread.

Hi Godsjewel/ Sarah

You are of incredible strength my friend. Beauty is not found in your form but in your function. I was going through my book of wisdom (quotes and inspirations I have gathered along the way and I really felt God lead me to include some here for you).

We do not inspire others with words but by example. I really felt like you have really been there and ARE leading by example to so many woman, the fact you have had endo & failed IUI’s you have been through the lot and I just encourage you right now and really admire your ability to stay strong as well as your attitude towards your situation. You are leading by perfect example.

The wounds you have received have come to you for a purpose from one who knows all you are meant to be. I see a real leader in your Sarah, you may say you don’t talk this much in person but I’ll tell you this, you don’t have to. You affect so many woman being the most quietest person in the room. And although you may not share your story with your good friends anymore for the sheer fact they just don’t get it, God has shaped compassion within you to be that understanding and shoulder for other woman who you are influencing today and will continue to in the future.

God always acts in your best interest even when it is painful and you don’t understand it. I know you know this, but there was a time when you didn’t understand why God didn’t intervene. You are definitely through the tunnel, and this quote is always refreshing to hear time and time again that he knows what’s best.

We are developing our character traits now what we will be needing in the future. God wont stop shaping you through this, he will continue to shape you right through motherhood. He has made you with a soft and genuine personality Sarah, he is shaping you to step up and speak up for those that cannot speak up for themselves. This time and what you have been through is nothing compared to what God has in store for you, thus why he is ‘training’ the qualities in you today in which you will be indeed needing in the future. Question, do you hold a Christian bible group with your husband through church? Something tells me you and your husband have the capability to influence young married couples within your church.

Every time God desires to change a nation, he sends people who have been changed. This quote is my favourite and sums it up for itself. I want you to remember that he sends the CHANGED not the broken, not the people who have never had anything happen to them, but the CHANGED. You indeed, have been changed

Hope you have a fabulous time this weekend away!!

xxx_faithful

 

[stevens2010]

Thank you Faithful, for your message and for the hug!

I feel better today, I had 3 big cries yesterday and my husband came home and really reassured me. He told me not to think of the 2 years because until we got the Clomid, we've never had a fair chance at TTC because I wasn't ovulating. I ovulated for the first time (hopefully!) last cycle so he said that really we're only on cycle 2. Of course in my heart, I know we've been trying for nearly two years but I know he's also right in that we're only just on a level playing field now thanks to the Clomid boosting ovulation.

That made me feel a lot better. He also told me to keep our anniversary and our TTC separate because otherwise our marriage becomes all about TTC. That made a lot of sense and I realised that our first 2 years of marriage have been spent in emotional turmoil about not falling pregnant etc. I'm now determined to have a good anniversary, no matter what happens.

I guess things just get on top of you sometimes and we just have a meltdown!

I saw a lovely quote on another site the other day :

"Sometimes God will let you hit rock bottom so you will discover that He is the rock at the bottom."

Many blessings to you all.

 

[Just_married]

Hi ladies,

I mentioned to Godsjewel a few days ago that I was thinking of creating a sub-group of this one specifically for those who have been TTC for over a year.

I would hope that the sub-group would compliment this one. Many of the amazing ladies on here are so extremely supportive of all TTC, new & long term, but ltttc brings it's own personal challenges that can be difficult to understand without experiencing it personally.

My aim would be to provide a little breathing space where ltttc ladies can come knowing they are being prayed for individually and also somewhere where the users are familiar with b&b guidelines. We are always delighted when God blesses someone here with a bfp, but occasionally the enthusiasms of a new user unexpectedly announcing a bfp or symptom spotting can unintentionally create a few wobbly moments, even for the strongest of us. I just wanted to provide a small corner somewhere thats safe to hide now and then

https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/ttc-groups/1060177-christian-ltttc-group-1yr-praying-all-join.html

Love to all, new & old xxx

 

[BRK06]

It seems many of my sisters are feeling down... I hope you can find some comfort here



“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God,”(1 Samuel 30:6 NIV).



Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way we thought it would. This was certainly the case for a teenage boy named David who was anointed the next King of Israel.
While King Saul was still on his throne, God chose David to be his successor. This didn’t sit too well with the King and he made every attempt to kill David before the crown could be placed on his handsome head. The young David, who earlier had bravely charged the Philistine giant, Goliath, now ran for his life. The one place Saul didn’t think David would hide was among the Philistines whom he had previously shamed. So that is exactly where David hid…the briar patch, so to speak.
By this time, David had a six hundred man army gathered round him. Each man brought his wife and children to live in the camp. The rag tag team of outcasts became David’s kingdom for a time.
One day while David and his men were off fighting a battle, another group of people, the Amalakites, invaded their camp and took all their wives and children captive. When David and his men returned home, they found empty beds, smoldering fires, and the haunting absence of familiar voices.
The men wept until they had no more tears or energy for recourse. Rather than devise a rescue plan, they turned their anger on their leader and threatened to stone him. Hurting people often hurt people and they were looking for someone to blame.
Can you imagine how David must have felt? His previous employer was trying to kill him (he had worked in Saul’s palace), his best friends had turned against him, and his wife and children had been taken captive or possibly killed. Where was he to turn? How could he encourage his men when he had nothing left to give?
There was only one place to turn…to God.
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6). Friend, sometimes to God is the only place we have to go. Isn’t it a shame that we wait until God is our last resort rather than our first line of defense? Yes, God has called us to live in community with other believers, but sometimes I believe He wants us all to Himself.
Moses was alone with God when he talked to God in the burning bush. Hagar was alone with God when he spoke to her and gave her water in the desert. Elijah was alone with God when God revealed Himself in the still small voice. Hannah was alone with God when she poured out her heart in prayer for a child. Jesus often went away by himself to commune with His Father. Where do we go when we hit rock bottom? When we’re feeling empty? When we’ve lost hope?
Go to God. Strengthen yourself in the Lord your God. It worked for David and He will work for you. David later wrote, “It is God who arms me with*strength*and keeps my way secure,” (Psalm 18:32 NIV).


Heavenly Father, Please give me the strength I need to meet each challenge I will face today. Thank You that You promise never to leave me or forsake me. No matter how alone I may feel, or how many turn against me, I know that You are always there. You are always for me.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

[srj1214]

Thank you so much for that reminder Kim. I really needed that right now. A woman in my church family of the past 20 years has been in ICU for the past 10 days and has no brain activity. They are taking her off life support tomorrow. My heart is breaking, she is like my 2nd mother. I would like to ask you ladies for prayer for the family please. I know there are some prayer warriors here. So even though this has nothing to do with ttc, I hope its okay. Her name is Teresa. She is a mighty woman of God.
You know this has really opened my eyes to see that there is so much more to this life than the little bubbles we live in. It's so easy to get wrapped up in our own little world where everything revolves around us. But that's not how God created us to be.
Thank you ladies in advance for the prayers.

 

[BRK06]

Thank you so much for that reminder Kim. I really needed that right now. A woman in my church family of the past 20 years has been in ICU for the past 10 days and has no brain activity. They are taking her off life support tomorrow. My heart is breaking, she is like my 2nd mother. I would like to ask you ladies for prayer for the family please. I know there are some prayer warriors here. So even though this has nothing to do with ttc, I hope its okay. Her name is Teresa. She is a mighty woman of God.
You know this has really opened my eyes to see that there is so much more to this life than the little bubbles we live in. It's so easy to get wrapped up in our own little world where everything revolves around us. But that's not how God created us to be.
Thank you ladies in advance for the prayers.

I'll be praying for Teresa's family and you as well! If you need to talk, we're all here for you

 

[HisGrace]

Thank you so much for that reminder Kim. I really needed that right now. A woman in my church family of the past 20 years has been in ICU for the past 10 days and has no brain activity. They are taking her off life support tomorrow. My heart is breaking, she is like my 2nd mother. I would like to ask you ladies for prayer for the family please. I know there are some prayer warriors here. So even though this has nothing to do with ttc, I hope its okay. Her name is Teresa. She is a mighty woman of God.
You know this has really opened my eyes to see that there is so much more to this life than the little bubbles we live in. It's so easy to get wrapped up in our own little world where everything revolves around us. But that's not how God created us to be.
Thank you ladies in advance for the prayers.

I am praying for your, Teresa, and her family.

 

[beckysprayer]

Thank you so much for that reminder Kim. I really needed that right now. A woman in my church family of the past 20 years has been in ICU for the past 10 days and has no brain activity. They are taking her off life support tomorrow. My heart is breaking, she is like my 2nd mother. I would like to ask you ladies for prayer for the family please. I know there are some prayer warriors here. So even though this has nothing to do with ttc, I hope its okay. Her name is Teresa. She is a mighty woman of God.
You know this has really opened my eyes to see that there is so much more to this life than the little bubbles we live in. It's so easy to get wrapped up in our own little world where everything revolves around us. But that's not how God created us to be.
Thank you ladies in advance for the prayers.

Praying for our friend's family and all of her friends during this tough time!

 

[xxx_faithful]

Thank you Faithful, for your message and for the hug!

I feel better today, I had 3 big cries yesterday and my husband came home and really reassured me. He told me not to think of the 2 years because until we got the Clomid, we've never had a fair chance at TTC because I wasn't ovulating. I ovulated for the first time (hopefully!) last cycle so he said that really we're only on cycle 2. Of course in my heart, I know we've been trying for nearly two years but I know he's also right in that we're only just on a level playing field now thanks to the Clomid boosting ovulation.

That made me feel a lot better. He also told me to keep our anniversary and our TTC separate because otherwise our marriage becomes all about TTC. That made a lot of sense and I realised that our first 2 years of marriage have been spent in emotional turmoil about not falling pregnant etc. I'm now determined to have a good anniversary, no matter what happens.

I guess things just get on top of you sometimes and we just have a meltdown!

I saw a lovely quote on another site the other day :

"Sometimes God will let you hit rock bottom so you will discover that He is the rock at the bottom."

Many blessings to you all.

Your husband is one wise man! Thanks for reminding me the importance of seperating TTC & your marriage apart from one another, so the stress from trying doesnt overflow into the other.
You sound exactly like me!!! in regards to i know deep down we have been trying much longer then 1yr on clomid. It's infact been 2.5yrs TTC.
When are you next going on holidays Stevens2010? any planned for the near future?

On a similiar note, I have found that lately i need to focus more on my husband and less on trying to conceive and complaining that we havent yet conceived. I have found i need to get back the excitement and good times we had before we were trying, instead of only having those good times when i'm ovulating. I have also found that the emotional rollercoster i have allowed myself to go on every month and has infact dampened our marriage as newlyweds. The opposite of what i ever anticipated. As of this month (assuming my 6th cycle of clomid failed) we're going on a TTC break. And i have abolsutely no doubt that in time we will conceive purely because i have a calmer peace of mind. Food for thought

Xx

 

[BRK06]

What have you been focusing on?


Genesis 15:4-6 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, This man shall not be your heir, but he who shall come from your own body shall be your heir. And He brought him outside [his tent into the starlight] and said, Look now toward the heavens and count the stars--if you are able to number them. Then He said to him, So shall your descendants be.And he [Abram] believed in (trusted in, relied on, remained steadfast to) the Lord, and He counted it to him as righteousness (right standing with God).

Abram was looking at his servant to be his heir because looking at himself, he was too old have a child from his own body. God took him outside (where his sight was limited) and told him to look up to the limitless sky and then reiterated His promise to Abram. Then God called him righteous because he believed.

This really ministered to me one day. It's like God was saying, "Stop looking at yourself- meaning my circumstances and situation, stop looking at others- meaning focusing on other people and their stories for my hope and Look UP to ME to see what I have for you. You have your own testimony to get."

The Bible also says in Psalms 84:11 that the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.
How do we walk uprightly? Abram was declared righteous not because he was a good person or did good things but because he believed God.
We walk uprightly by believing God and His Word and walking by faith and not by sight.

I've found that some of the greatest times that I felt like giving up were when I spent hours and even days reading stories and posts of other women ttc and then comparing them with what I see, feel, or hear about myself and my situation. I was setting myself up for disappointment when it didn't happen for me the way it did for them or it would bring fear that the things that happened to them would happen to me. I learned to look up to my Father, Who is the Creator of all and loves me dearly to get my hope and to remind me of the Promise He gave to me.

The Word of God is Life and we have the authority and ability to speak it into every situation. So when I "feel" like I might be pregnant, I remind myself and confess that "I am pregnant not because of how I feel (how many times has that led you wrong and left you discouraged?) but because the Word is working in me." When I see AF show up, I confess, I'm not moved by what I see and I thank God that I am pregnant because the Word is working in me and when I keep speaking the Word what I see has to line up with my confession according to the Word." When I hear a negative report from the doctor or negative words of others, I thank God that His Word is working in me and He will prove that it is HIS Word that is Truth and my faith brings those negative words to nothing.

Helpful Things to Remember for the Week:
-Don't focus on what you see or hear negatively about your body or your circumstances.
-Don't focus on other women's stories and compare yourself so much that you are feeding doubt, fear and jealousy or discouragement.

-Do Look Up to God knowing He has something special just for you and get your hope from the Word like Abram did
-Do Remember His promises to you
-Do Walk uprightly by believing God and Trusting Him to conceive knowing that He promises that He won't withhold anything from those who do so.
-Do speak the Word in spite of your circumstances.
-Do the Do's and You won't Do the Don'ts.

Confession for the Week:
"I'm not moved by what I see. I'm not moved by what I hear. I'm not moved by what I feel. I am moved by the Word of God! I'm blessed! My womb is blessed! My marriage is blessed! The Word is working in me and for me! I have what I say when I speak according to the Word and I'm pregnant!"

Have a wonderful week ladies! I love you and I'm praying for you!
YOU ARE BLESSED!!!

 

[BRK06]

Beautiful by Mercy Me


The days will come when you don't have the strength
When all you hear is you're not worth anything
Wondering if you ever could be loved
And if they truly saw your heart they'd see too much

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful

I'm praying that you have the heart to find
Cause you are more than what is hurting you tonight
For all the lies you've held inside so long
And they are nothing in the shadow of the cross

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are made so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful


Before you ever took a breath
Long before the world began
Of all the wonders He possessed
There was one more precious
Of all the earth and skies above
You're the one He madly loves
Enough to die

You're beautiful
You're beautiful
In His eyes

You're beautiful
You were meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You're meant for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You're beautiful
You are treasured, You are sacred, You are His

 

[stevens2010]

Thank you Faithful, for your message and for the hug!

I feel better today, I had 3 big cries yesterday and my husband came home and really reassured me. He told me not to think of the 2 years because until we got the Clomid, we've never had a fair chance at TTC because I wasn't ovulating. I ovulated for the first time (hopefully!) last cycle so he said that really we're only on cycle 2. Of course in my heart, I know we've been trying for nearly two years but I know he's also right in that we're only just on a level playing field now thanks to the Clomid boosting ovulation.

That made me feel a lot better. He also told me to keep our anniversary and our TTC separate because otherwise our marriage becomes all about TTC. That made a lot of sense and I realised that our first 2 years of marriage have been spent in emotional turmoil about not falling pregnant etc. I'm now determined to have a good anniversary, no matter what happens.

I guess things just get on top of you sometimes and we just have a meltdown!

I saw a lovely quote on another site the other day :

"Sometimes God will let you hit rock bottom so you will discover that He is the rock at the bottom."

Many blessings to you all.

Your husband is one wise man! Thanks for reminding me the importance of seperating TTC & your marriage apart from one another, so the stress from trying doesnt overflow into the other.
You sound exactly like me!!! in regards to i know deep down we have been trying much longer then 1yr on clomid. It's infact been 2.5yrs TTC.
When are you next going on holidays Stevens2010? any planned for the near future?

On a similiar note, I have found that lately i need to focus more on my husband and less on trying to conceive and complaining that we havent yet conceived. I have found i need to get back the excitement and good times we had before we were trying, instead of only having those good times when i'm ovulating. I have also found that the emotional rollercoster i have allowed myself to go on every month and has infact dampened our marriage as newlyweds. The opposite of what i ever anticipated. As of this month (assuming my 6th cycle of clomid failed) we're going on a TTC break. And i have abolsutely no doubt that in time we will conceive purely because i have a calmer peace of mind. Food for thought

Xx

Lol he has his moments!

We're going away at the end of July for a minibreak in the UK and hopefully later this year we will go somewhere nice and hot for a proper holiday.

I totally agree about focussing on hubby. When AF arrived after my first Clomid cycle, he cried on my shoulder. That's when it hit me that I'd been so wrapped up in my own emotions, I forgot he has them too. So this cycle we've been much better and we've been more attentive to each other too. We've started praying together more as well which helps cos then we get back on track to focussing on God and not what the consultant has said etc.

I have also felt that we need to be us again, like what we were when we were going out! So now we have date nights too.

A break sounds good! Will you be going away? Hopefully you won't need a break cos you'll have your BFP!

 

[Godsjewel]

Good morning beautiful ladies!!! I'm so glad to be back safe and sound. I had a wonderful, relaxing time away and already looking forward to our next mini vacation in August.

Time to catch up on the thread, praying you all are doing well and keeping the faith


Out-of-Control Truckers

...God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

When I was about eight years old, I went on a road trip with my mom through the mountains of Tennessee. I remember sitting in the front seat feeling like such a grown up! As I am a child of the 70’s, I remember the crackling of the CB radio as truckers carried on their lively conversations and warnings of “smokeys” hiding in their speed traps.

We were coming down the side of a mountain on skinny, curvy roads as I noticed that my mom was driving much faster than normal. She would take the curves without slowing down and it really became frightening. What was happening? There was an 18-wheeler just behind our car that had lost its brakes and was barreling down that mountain out of control! Truckers were talking my mom down the mountain as she had no way to get out of the path of the truck behind her. “There’s a huge curve to your right just ahead of you! Get ready!” “Just another mile and you’ll be off the mountain! Hang on, lady!” It was utterly terrifying! My mom never said a word to me as I peppered her with questions. She just gripped her steering wheel and prayed.

Finally, we saw the most beautiful sight we had ever seen in our entire lives! That dirt road leading up the side of the mountain was more glorious than any sunset, any mansion or any diamond ring we had ever seen! Why? It was the way of escape for the out-of-control truck behind us. When the trucker rounded that curve in the road and saw an empty escape route, he turned his steering wheel to the right and plowed his way up the escape path. The incline and deep sand in the escape route slowed his truck to a stop. My mom was able to slow down and safely drive us the rest of the way down the mountain.

Infertility is hard. You certainly don’t need me to tell you that. It sometimes feels like your emotions are so out of control, that you simply cannot take the frustration any more. You get a bad report from the doctor, or you get another invitation to a baby shower in the mail just as you get off the phone with your newly pregnant sister-in-law. You just don’t know how much more of this you can take! You’ve been told time and again that God has a plan for your life, and that He will work through this situation, but you’re just not sure you can hang on long enough for Him to do the work. Has God pushed you to limits beyond what you can bear?

No, friend. He promises to never give you more of a burden than you can bear. It’s written in black and white, and found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. The word, “temptation” is really quite an interesting word. The literal meaning is “adversity, affliction, trouble: sent by God and serving to test or prove one's character, faith, holiness”. God will not allow more adversity, affliction or trouble to come into your life than what you are able to bear. He may push you right up to the limit of what you can stand, but He’ll never allow more than you can survive. When you feel like the burden is too heavy, and you are about to give in to the pressure, look around you. God promises a way of escape. Perhaps it will be found in the encouragement of a supportive friend. Maybe your pastor will deliver a sermon that speaks directly to your heart and the specific struggle you face. It may even come in a good doctor’s report, or just a stress-free date with your spouse. Look around you. God promises a way of escape when you feel like giving up.

God doesn’t allow tests and trials like infertility to come into your life because He likes to see you suffer. Don’t you know that He loves you, and hurts right along with you? So why does He allow it? They prove your character. Trials overcome make a shining example of faith and holiness.

Perhaps you need to hear it from a fellow sufferer of long ago. Surely there were days that Job felt like giving up. Surely he felt like he couldn’t take the hurt any more. Surely he wondered if God really did have a plan for him. Perhaps his escape route came in the form of a deep abiding belief that good things were around the bend. Read the words he shares with you today:

But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:10)

When your struggle with infertility gets the hardest, and you feel tempted to give up on God and His plan, just hold on, lady! God will provide a way of escape for you. And when He has tested you, you will come forth as gold!

~Author unknown