We’ve all had to wait. Whether waiting in traffic or waiting for a breakthrough, we know the uneasiness and stress that comes with waiting. For women, waiting for a baby may be the hardest waiting season of all. The pain for this waiting that we often call infertility is more common than we may realize. 1 in 6 women deal with infertility and know the pain of longing and waiting for a child. The Bible is not silent on this issue and instead highlights and cares for women who long for children.
- Sarah was the wife of Abraham. She was 90 years old before she had Isaac which means she experienced over 70 years of waiting for a child.
- Rebekah’s story is found in Genesis 25. Rebekah was barren and her husband, Isaac, prayed on her behalf and God opened her womb.
- Rachel was without children for many years as she watched her sister Leah have baby after baby. Her story shows the jealousy and bitterness that can grow when pain takes hold of our heart.
- Manoah’s wife is just called ‘woman’. We are never told her name, but her story is in Judges 13. She was barren, and God gave her Samson, a child set apart to do his work.
- We forget that Ruth was barren for a season. She was married for 10 years to Naomi’s son in Moab but never had children. It wasn’t until she came to Bethlehem and married Boaz that she bore Obed.
- Hannah’s story of infertility shows us the physical toll grief takes on our hearts and bodies. God heard her prayer, and she bears a boy named Samuel who grows up to be a judge and prophet for the nation Israel.
Here are some truths to remember.
Waiting is a reality in the life of faith. God continually calls his people to wait and we commonly picture waiting as a negative. We see waiting defined by what it is not happening, rather than what is.
Waiting, in Scripture, is the active turning to the Lord. Waiting is an invitation to be active, doing something in faith, rather than doing nothing.
Psalm 27:14 (NASB) “Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.”
Periods of waiting help us articulate our need for God. Our desire for the gifts should never overtake our desire for the giver.
1 Peter 5:6-7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Our story of waiting is part of our witness. Waiting provides an opportunity for us to testify to the goodness of God.
- How has he showed up and provided for you during your waiting?
- What glimpses of his glory have you seen in your darkest moments?
- What parts of God’s character have you experienced that you might not have otherwise?
All of us know someone who has struggled or is struggling with this. In fact, I would guess most of us experienced some of it ourselves. We need to lean into this group of mamas because they are our friends, daughters, sisters, and sisters-in-law.
Galatians 6:2 (NLT), “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Burden in the Greek means a weight, something heavy that has significance. If it matters to you then it matters to me. We can share their load by praying consistently for God’s comfort and presence. When any of us experience the darkness, what we need most is Jesus.
One of the core beliefs we have here at Gather Moms is that God gives us the heart of a mother, regardless of whether we have children. Just because you don’t have a biological child, an adoptive child or are still in the waiting season doesn’t mean you don’t have the heart of a mother. You are created in the image of God. Where does motherhood come from? From God – the creator. You are welcome here.
Mothers are everywhere, if we only have eyes to see them. Motherhood is woven into the very fabric of creation, and God says that all of creation tells about his glory. Motherhood is about more than just physically giving birth. We need more Mary Poppins of Christendom. In many such women, I have seen the mother of Proverbs 31 who never lets a fellow Christian go hungry, works hard to clothe the needy, and takes care to make sure the life of the church runs smoothly. So, even a woman without biological offspring can have Christian children who “rise up and call her blessed.”
Mothers Show Us More of God by Tyler Holley
