Hope For The Hurting
It is easy to become discouraged when prayers seemingly go unanswered. Each minute that passes becomes more excruciating than the last without an answer. Fear creeps in as faith slips away and the painful waiting can be absolutely unbearable. Before long, desire can turn to desperation and one is left feeling helpless and alone. But we’re not alone. God is there waiting for us to reach to him, waiting for us to acknowledge His presence. As we wait, our focus becomes intently on the destination we have our eyes on. Instead, God would rather we focus on our journey and what He has for us along the way. When the road your on becomes unfamiliar or uncertain remember, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105. Seek God and His Word. Allow Him to light your way.
"Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word."
Psalm 119:169
Strength While Waiting
“He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29
“But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Isaiah 41:10
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Philippians 4:13
“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.”
Psalm 27:14
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him…”
Psalm 37:7
"Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength."
Isaiah 26:4
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
"The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him."
Lamentations 3:25
"Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."
Psalm 31:24
"Our soul waiteth for the Lord: He is our help and our shield."
Psalm 33:20
"But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: He is their strength in the time of trouble."
Psalm 37:39
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Psalm 46:1
"My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:26
"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."
Psalm 18:2
Pray and Give Thanks
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Rejoice in the lord always: and I say again, rejoice.”
Philippians 4:4
"I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Psalm 34:1
"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."
Isaiah 25:1
"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: For I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."
Psalm 42:11
The Lord Hears
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers…”
I Peter 3:12
“Commit thy way unto the Lord: trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
Psalm 37:5
“The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of broken heart…”
Psalm 34:17-18
"In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me."
Psalm 120:1
"...ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
Luke 11:9
"...and it will come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious."
Exodus 22:27
"For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee."
Psalm 31:22
"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
Psalm 34:4
"This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him. O fear the Lord, ye His saints: for there is no want to them that fear Him."
Psalm 34: 6-9
God Is Watching Over You
Give It To God
"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
I Peter 5:7
"I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord..."
Psalm 121:1-2
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 115:11
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
"Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."
Psalm 55:22
"And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."
Psalm 9:10
Faith
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
Hebrews 11:1
"But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
Hebrews 11:6
"...According to your faith be it unto you."
Matthew 9:29
"...If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, remove hence to yonder place; and it shall be removed: and nothing shall be impossible unto you."
Matthew 17:20
"Jesus said unto them, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."
Mark 9:23
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."
Matthew 21:22
"For we walk by faith, not by sight."
II Corinthians 5:7
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."
James 1:5-6
"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Mark 11:22-23
Peace
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
Direction
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“A man’s heart plans his way: but the Lord directs his steps.”
Proverbs 16:9
"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye."
Psalm 32:8
"And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."
Isaiah 30:21
"And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in the paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
Isaiah 42:16
Tips For Coping
.~Keep Perspective
Remember that you did nothing to cause infertility--you are not being punished. We live in a fallen world and we are subject to things of this life. Don't live in guilt and don't place blame, infertility is not someone's "fault." Always acknowledge your emotions. Feelings of grief, anger, despair and envy are real--even if these emotions are for a child you haven't even conceived yet. Being honest about your emotions is the first step in coping--be realistic about what you're feeling. To achieve a healthy pregnancy, you must first have a healthy outlook.
~Make Wise Decisions
The desire to conceive and the pressure to start a family can become overwhelming. It can make crucial decisions very difficult. Prayerfully consider your options and carfeully think about the decisions that you can live with. The path of infertitlity can lead to many ethical dilemmas. If you struggle with the impact of the options you have to choose from, seek God in prayer and also seek counsel from someone whose opinion you respect.
~Educate Yourself
Knowledge is power. You will gain a new sense of empowerment and control if you educate yourself about your circumstance. Having a clear understanding will also eliminate fear and frustration. Read any information that you can find on your personal situation (ie: infertility or miscarriage). Research the topic on the internet. Make a list of questions to ask your doctor or pharmacist. Ask others who have had a similar experience.
~Pray
Keep open communication with God. He is there for you, He knows exactly where you are at and He sees your hurt and pain. Talk to Him daily and let Him know how you are feeling. It's ok to let Him know if you are feeling sad, angry, or alone.
~ Give Thanks.
Look around at what you do have and be thankful. Are your basic needs being met in life? Do you have food, shelter, and clothing? Do you have the freedom to pick up a Bible and read it's word? Do you have breath to breathe? Be thankful even for the trials and hard times you are facing. God can bring many beautiful things from this time in your life.
~Read Your Bible
Take time to open God's Word daily. You will find so much strength and encouragment as you feed your soul. It will provide you with the spiritual nourishment that you need to get you through this difficult time.
~Get Support
You're not alone. There are others facing the same things right now. Ten percent of reproductive age couples are facing infertility. Find a support group in your area. Research the internet for support groups or special on-line chat rooms and bulletins. You can communicate with others facing the same struggle and gain wisdom from those who have lived through it. Surround yourself with positive people--atittude is everything. Seek support from your spouse. Let him or her know exactly what you are feeling. They may not be aware of the depth of your pain. Seek support from family members, friends, and your church family. If you are having a crisis, or feel that you can't handle the burden your carrying, seek a clergy member or christian counselor for help.
~Change Your Scenery.
Redecoarte a room. Change the furniture around for a new look. Go for a drive. Take a walk. Go for a day trip. If you are able--take a vacation to a relaxing destination,
~Remember Your Spouse.
It's easy to forget about the needs of our marriage in a difficult time. Please take time to encourage and show love to your spouse. Focus only on your spouse for an evening. Go out on a date again. Celebrate the love that brought you together. Have a picnic--even if it is on the living room floor. Go window shopping. Visit friends. Taking time to love each other will strengthen your marriage and create a tighter bond to get you through tough times.
~ Pamper Yourself.
Don't neglect yourself. It is vital for your emotional well-being to feel good about yourself. Have fun and spoil yourself--you deserve it! Go to the salon. Get a facial. Have a manicure and a pedicure. Get a massage. Relax with aroma therapies (ie: massage oils, eye pillows, bath oils ect.). Listen to a CD with relaxing music. Buy that new outfit you have been watching. Read a book. Try herbal teas and discover a favorite flavor. Take a long quiet walk and take in the view. Soak in a hot bubble bath. Keep a healthy diet. This will help boost your immune system and will also give you much-needed energy during this stressful time in your life. Do whatever helps you get the most out of life and provides you with some rejuvenation.
Prayer From a Waiting Heart
By: Dorothy Donham
Dear Lord,
I come to you with a heavy heart and a heavy burden for the child I long to have. My arms ache as I long to hold the little one we are asking for. Lord, please help me to be strong as I wait on you. I pray for your perfect will in my life. I know that your will may not be mine, but I surrender my life to you and what you would have for me. I pray for guidance as you direct my paths. Help me to make the right choices as I seek answers. Let me feel your presence with me so that I may know you are still by my side. I need to know that you hear me and that you indeed care. This overwhelming desire for a child that has flooded my heart has become painful. Sometimes I can't see beyond the sorrow and anguish that overtakes me. I ask that you would somehow ease this pain if I am called to wait. Help me to hear your voice so that I'll know when you answer. Help me to cope if my answer is "No." I do know that you have abundant blessings for me and that sometimes you answer our prayers in a different way than we would expect. I know you will bring the good out of this circumstance. Help me to remember to always be thankful. You know what's best for me and you see the beginning to the end. Lord, help me to help others. Maybe I can give strength to someone who is even weaker than me. Please be patient with me as I try to endure this heartache. It is so hard to not have emotional ups and downs, but you created the very emotions I am feeling, so I know you understand. I am looking forward in faith for my miracle, my answer to this prayer. I will give you all the glory, honor, and praise for the marvelous works you will perform in my life. I hand it all to you Dear Lord, this load is too heavy to bear.
Waiting on You,
In Jesus' Name--Amen