HOPE

Sometimes on this road of infertility, the wind can get knocked out of your sails. Without great family and friends it could be very easy to just give up, to quit and to accept defeat. The fear of what can go wrong can seriously overwhelm you, especially when the hits keep coming. Today I cling to the verse in 2 Timothy 1:7 "God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but a spirit of power and love and self-control!". I am claiming the power that God gives each of us and that He has a plan for me "they are plans of good and not of disaster, to give you a future and HOPE!" Jeremiah 29:11. Thanks to my sweet kindred spirit for sending me that one today!!

I BELIEVE that God will answer any prayers when we pray with a heart like His, and I believe that he understands our pain, as stated here:

Psalm 119:28 (New International Version)

²⁸ My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.

And I know that He is with me always, as this verse demonstrates. I found this verse after my first loss and again came across it after the second. My sweet friend, Karla (mother to the sweet twins born at 32w,4d, who are totally fat and adorable, home and doing great now!), sent me some great verses last night! It is great to have friends who encourage me so, not allow me to wallow in sadness or despair!

Psalm 34:18 (New International Version)

¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 40:1-3 (New International Version)

¹ I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.

² He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.

³ He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.

I remember praying for patience before, and I'm learning that He is teaching it to me, and teaching me to trust in Him completely with no other focus, no other dependency. In Him alone I will put my faith!!!

Psalm 145:18-19 (New International Version)

¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.

I really like this one, as I love to sing, I love to worship God in song, and the thought of Him singing over me is so comforting!!

Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)

¹⁷ The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing."

And finally, I leave you with my favorite scripture ever. This one I have claimed for years, and even cross-stitched when I was in high school (yes, I did cross-stitch!). The promise of Him NEVER leaving me is so comforting because I know in this journey through infertility and loss you often feel alone, and it's when I feel the most alone that His peace overwhelms me and I REST in the knowledge that He is in control!!

Isaiah 54:10 (American Standard Version)

¹⁰ For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed; but my lovingkindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall my covenant of peace be removed, saith Jehovah that hath mercy on thee.

There were lots of hopeful blog posts today and for that I'm grateful as well. I want to share a quote from Once a Mother's blog that she read on a friends fb...

"Don't let the sadness of your past and the fear of your future ruin the happiness of your present!!" Can I get an AMEN?!!? Send her some love too, she's on week 7 of bed rest and for anyone who has been on it, you know that it can really wear on your soul!

Continuing in HOPE and BELIEVING that God will provide!!!