Yesterday we talked about the uncomfortable reality of our sin nature and how infertility can often make it even worse. The good news today is that according to our passage in Galatians, Christ gives us the ability to overcome it.
I dislike the word barren because one of its definitions is “unfruitful.” When we are suffering from infertility, we may not be able to produce fruit in the form of biological offspring, but we can indeed bear fruit in other areas of our lives.
How do we do this? Galatians outlines two steps: 1) by giving ourselves to Christ so He can take our sinful nature and crucify them on His cross and, 2) by following the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
With Christ’s help, we CAN be fruitful in the middle of infertility. His Holy Spirit in our lives allows us to partake in the fruits of the spirit He has graciously given us.
He allows us to love– even people who might take their pregnancies or children for granted.
He allows us to experience joy– even in the midst of deep sadness and sorrow over our circumstances.
He gives us peace– even when we don’t understand His plans for our lives.
He gives us patience– instead of bitterness over what we’re experiencing.
He gives us kindness and goodness- in order that we might encourage others even while we ourselves may be suffering.
He gives us the ability to be faithful– to Him and to others in our lives when we might have otherwise turned away.
He gives us the ability to be gentle- even with people who say insensitive or judgmental things about infertility
And he gives us self-control- to hold our tongues, to take care of our bodies, to make wise decisions even when we feel like doing otherwise.
Praise God that Christ went to the cross to overcome our sinful nature and give us such good gifts!
Image courtesy of Bill Williams via UnSplash
