Westminster Presbyterian Church has some of the cutest babies and children in the city of Greenwood. When I see Eli at church, I have to fight the urge to squeeze his little baby cheeks. Hearing Cole sing louder than everyone around him in the congregation is the sweetest sound. Cora practically sprints away from me because she knows I’m going to get my hands on her precious curly hair. Our children’s ministry is certainly blessed, and every time I look in the bulletin there seems to be a new baby on the way.

Alec and I have never been so ready to start a family of our own. I had our perfect “baby plan” all set – the timing, money saved up, a creative pregnancy announcement, names picked out, nursery ideas, etc. Little did I know, God wasn’t quite on board with my plan, and now a year later I’m still waiting. Month after month I ask, “why do I have to wait this long?”

Waiting seems to be a pretty common theme in the Bible. Paul waited through imprisonments and persecutions. David waited 15 years to become king. Noah had to wait 120 years for the Lord to fulfill his Word while the ark was being prepared. Abraham was 100 years old when he finally had a child. So what’s with all the waiting? Why doesn’t God bless us sooner?

Well, I’m still trying to figure that out myself, but this is what I’ve learned so far. First, I’ve had to realize that God’s timing is perfect – not mine. He doesn’t need my help or my research from Google on how to make things happen. There’s no yoga move or magic vitamin that will speed up His timing. I have to step back and accept His plan; He is the only one who knows the end result of my infertility because He’s the one who gave it to me (Job 2:10). Second, waiting is intended to increase faith. Because God loves us, He does not bless us so much that we don’t need to trust Him (Maxwell, 2014). If everything we needed in life could be achieved solely by the work of humans, then where would God fit in the picture? If I take the responsibility for my infertility, then I am failing to recognize and trust that God is the giver of life. Third, waiting cultivates gratitude. If God gave us everything we ask for the second we ask for it, our appreciation for that gift would be short-lived. Our joy would be brief, and we would soon be waiting on the next good thing to happen. As Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.” And I know when I become pregnant, I’ll experience a joy far greater than if I became pregnant a year ago. When I hold that baby, I’ll be more grateful for the gift of life than if God didn’t make me wait.

Now some of you may be thinking, “Whoa, Mary Grace, TMI! Why are you sharing such personal information?” Well, we need your prayers. Prayers for peace, understanding, hope, and, of course, a baby! By joining in prayer with us, we can bring God more glory for when He answers.

I don’t know the outcome of this journey or the steps we’ll have to take, but I know that God designed waiting to draw us closer to Him. I pray that my faith will be strengthened and that He continues to remind me that His plan is the only plan.

As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me. My God will certainly hear me. Micah 7:7

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Maxwell, P. (2014, Sept 17). Do You Hate to Wait? Retrieved from desiringgod.org.