God With Us In Our Uncertainty

My husband has been encouraging me to listen to this sermon the past couple days.  Usually he'll mention something and then leave it at that.  This time was different as he mentioned it a few times...so, I decided to spend some time this morning listening to it.

It took all of 7 minutes (5 of which were talking about football!) for the tears to start flowing and for me to realize that this was a message I needed to hear...and one that was going to hit close to home!

The message started out talking about how our life can change in a single moment, a second.  I connected with that because that's exactly how I felt the moment we found out we had lost our baby (both times).

You begin to question..."How can this be?", "What just happened?", "This shouldn't be happening to me.", and "I never thought we'd be here.".  The last one, especially, rings so true of my thoughts right now.  I never thought we'd get pregnant twice and lose two babies.  Nor did I think that we would be consulting with an infertility specialist to try to get some answers as to why we are losing our babies.

As a Christian, growing up in the church, reading the bible, attending bible studies, etc...I've been told (and believe with all that I am) that God has a plan for my life and it's a good plan.  Yes, this is very true but it doesn't mean that it's always wonderful, rainbows, and butterflies.  It's not a promise given by God that we won't face difficulties and that our life will be exempt from uncertainty. 

In fact, He has a dangerous and uncertain plan for my life.  Only He knows how it all unfolds.  My story (our story) is a complete mystery to me...one that I know will eventually unfold either here on earth or in eternity. 

In our life of uncertainty, one thing is certain...God is with me!  I am never alone, He loves me, and He's asking me to respond with unquestionable obedience no matter what the circumstances may be.

The message goes on to tell the story of Mary and Joseph.  As you know, they were not married (not having sexual relations) and God tells Mary that she will birth the Messiah.  Joseph is shocked and doesn't know what to do.  But in the midst of his uncertainty, Joseph feared God more than the thoughts, criticism, and ridicule of man and obeyed God.  He chose to honor God and Mary above all else.

What do you do in the midst of your uncertainty?  Do you respond or do you react?  Do you believe the worst or the best?  Do you expose or do you protect?

The pastor explains that there are 3 characteristics that Joseph displayed in his moment of uncertainty.

FAITHFULNESS
 

PROTECTIVE
 

SELFLESSNESS
 

 

These are characteristics that we should all have in the moment of decision when faced with uncertainty.  When God spoke to Joseph and said, "Get up" that's exactly what Joseph did.  God wants us to have unquestionable obedience no matter how dark the valley looks!

 

Have you ever considered that God is working a bigger miracle out of all this mess?  I truly have and I have witnessed it first hand.  I can recall that our first loss was so full of darkness and I truly questioned how God was going to use the loss of our precious Joy as a "good thing".  I went through a long valley...full of darkness, fear, anxiety, depression, and I really doubted how I was going to view it as "good".

 

But, even through all of this, I was in constant communication with God...I knew He was with me every step of the way and that He would get me through it.  And, He did!  I have said it many times...I'm so thankful for the lessons I've learned and how God changed me through this journey.  My love for our babies is eternal and I'm so thankful for them!  But, I'm also thankful for how my heart has been forever changed as a mother...I can only imagine just how intensified my love will be for our future kids.  I know that I will be much more patient, willing to let certain things go, live more in the moment and enjoy life with our kids.  I'm also excited to be a stay-at-home-mom (this was something that I knew I was going to do but my heart was not fully invested...it took going through this to realize what is truly important in life)!  There's simply no way to go through this journey and not be changed, especially when you go through it with God!

 

My prayer for everyone struggling with "life"- whether it be miscarriage/stillbirth/infant loss, trying to get pregnant, marriage struggles, financial difficulties, health issues, etc- is that you know that God is with you and I pray that you are with Him!  We serve a God that is into making the impossible possible...now that's something to get excited for!

 

If God asks you to "Get up"....how will you respond? 

The sermon can be found at www.friendschurchyl.com/media from December 8, 2013.