This post was originally published on November 20, 2013 and republished on July 3, 2018.
In 2010, I memorized Isaiah 51:3 in the NIV translation.
The Lord will surely comfort Zion and look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord…
The extended singleness I was experiencing at the time felt like my own personal wasteland, and the Lord used this verse to bring me much comfort.
Three years later, and I’m happily married with a wonderful husband. But together we are walking through a new wasteland: infertility.
I recently read the verse for the first time in the NLT translation and it took on a whole new meaning for me.
“The Lord will comfort Israel again and have pity on her ruins. Her deserts will blossom like Eden, her barren wilderness like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air.”
My guess is that anyone who has struggled with infertility will agree that “ruins” is a good substitute for “barren.”
I am barren, infertile.
But God promises me that my barren wilderness will bloom and blossom like His very own personal garden.
Think about that for a minute. Can you imagine what the personal garden of Earth’s creator looks like?
Can you imagine how much water, how much life-liquid is required to make deserts bloom into stunning gardens?
And the Master Gardener promises to make my wasteland just as beautiful.
I do not know if my flowers and blooms will come in the form of a baby, or in the form of a different plan He has.
But I do know there will be joy.
We will be glad.
And we will sing songs of thanksgiving to Him.
May those promises be your comfort in the midst of infertility.
P.S. Are you looking for more encouragement during infertility? Check out my book, 31 Days of Prayer During Infertility.
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