A Testimony about the Pain of Infertility

Note from Lois:

One subscriber responded to the topic of infertility, and her personal testimony is below.  Other ladies may feel free to reply to any newsletter with testimonies and encouragement about infertility, which touches many couples who would love to hold their own baby in their arms. 

Hello Lois,

While I absolutely love reading and forwarding your newsletters, I was touched by your desire to share with others about infertility in the upcoming one.  I wanted to share a piece of my story below.  I too have had the pain of never conceiving, but God has so blessed me in so many ways, first as a stepmom and now years later as an adoptive mom to the most amazing daughter in the whole world.  I am not sure what you are looking for, but I wrote this several weeks ago and wanted to share it with you.
Blessings, Maryann in Alabama

The book of Isaiah 54:1 states we should sing; "Sing, O barren, for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, says the Lord."    

Today many women suffer with infertility, the sadness and sorrow of not bearing a child can be great.  It can be years even a lifetime of pain that turns one bitter. I ask how one rejoices in the pain and sorrow of being barren. Just as Hannah in the Bible as she surrendered to the priest the fruit of her womb, Hannah jubilantly sang, "The barren hath borne seven." (1 Samuel 2:5)  Oh Hannah! Whatever do you mean?  You have no abundance - only one, and even he has been torn from you.  Hannah's vow of surrender unleashed the power of God.  

We can treat this as a burden, struggling in our sorrow or we can allow love to unfold and give praise to God allowing it to become the beautiful experience he intends it to be, turning the bitterness into sweetness. God knows our deepest pain with barrenness and He understands. He wants us to rejoice in it and sing, for many are the children of the barren woman. 

Can you imagine what that must have been like for Hannah, to surrender the one child given to her? I am sure Hannah gave no place to bitterness and pain, just praise and thanksgiving. Allow God to heal the wound of your heart if you are one who is struggling with this pain. God will restore you and bring complete peace in this situation, He will turn it around if you let Him. Whether through the miracle of adoption, volunteering at crisis centers, hospital wards, local libraries or nurseries; there is a place for the wounded heart. Let's sing and rejoice as Hannah did! 

Find peace in this.  Psalm 71:23  My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you.  I, whom you have redeemed.