Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I doubt that many of us have rejoiced over the fact that we’re struggling with infertility. I don’t know about you, but I’m not sending a thank-you card to God for my infertility anytime soon.
BUT… There are so many things for which I can be grateful during infertility, and I have been able to genuinely thank him for these things.
The first thing that comes to mind is how infertility has strengthened my marriage. I’m also profoundly grateful for the online infertility community and the wonderful relationships I have with my readers and other bloggers.
But what if infertility has hurt our marriage? Or if we haven’t experienced community with others?
Here are a few Biblical examples of things for which we can be grateful in any circumstance:
- God’s goodness & mercy
- God’s promises of strength, comfort, courage, and endurance
- The faith of others (which inspires us)
- The nearness of God
- Our eternal hope and salvation
And even on the bleakest of days, we can be grateful for Christ’s victory over death. Even in death, God is at work on behalf of His people.
As you pray today, thank God for the good that has come out of your infertility. If you have trouble naming the good, thank Him for the the blessings we have in any circumstance (listed above).
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It’s funny I read this today because just in my quiet time this morning, I wrote in my journal:
“Thank you Poppa for my circumstance of infertility because without it, I might not have drawn closer to you or learned what faith really is when adversity strikes.”
This stemmed from reading in my Jesus Today devotional by Sarah Young that said:
“I am training you to thank Me not only for obvious blessings but also for situations you would never have chosen. This is counterintutitive thankfulness, and it is possible only to the extent that you trust Me at a deep level. It is also a matter of self-discipline: willing yourself to thank Me even when your circumstances are screaming at you to find a way out. Your persistent thankfulness may actually provide the long awaited key I will use to unlock major difficulties in your life.”
I just loved that devotional this morning and it went right into praying for gratefulness.
xo
I just love it when you “randomly” come across several things on the same topic in one day! It’s like God’s version of yelling (in a loving way)!
My favorite mantra is “and if not, He is still good”. We have so much to be thankful for. Thank you for this devotional! I wish I would have found them earlier in my journey 🙂