I don’t know about you, but infertility is one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through.
I’m scared of the side effects from the drugs. I’m scared of people pitying me. I’m scared of spending all our money for nothing.
I know the Bible tells us not to fear, but I still struggle with it daily. Sometimes the guilt over feeling fear is even worse than the fear itself. I feel unworthy of God’s grace because I’m disobeying his command to not fear.
But the other day I read Zephaniah 3:16-17 and I noticed something I’d never noticed before:
On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,
“Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!
For the Lord your God is living among you.
He is a mighty savior.
“He will take delight in you with gladness.
With his love, he will calm all your fears.
He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (NLT)
Did you see what I see? God acknowledges Jerusalem’s fear. He knows they’re afraid despite the fact that he lives among them. Yet he delights in them.
The verse doesn’t say he will delight in them after their fears are calmed. His delight comes before.
This is such good news for me! God is not offended or put off by my fear. He doesn’t want me to be afraid, but my fear won’t push him away. He delights in me whether I am fearful or not.
Even if you struggle with giving your fears to God, don’t give in feelings of guilt or unworthiness. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. Not infertility, not unmerited guilt, and definitely not fear.
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.” Rom 8:28 (NLT)
