A Barren Womb

Cameron and I, however, have never faulted from our desire to have offspring, and yet I still stand barren.

1 Samuel 1:1-28

Reference: v.5 But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. (TNIV Bible)

Explore: My husband and I have been married for over ten years now, but we have not been able to have children naturally. Everyone has a theory, a technique or an old wives tale on what we are doing wrong, however, nothing has worked for us.

It’s interesting that both Cameron and I have friends who married but at one point in their life decided not to have children. Neither of these friends were particularly doting towards children and they just felt there was little reason for them to bring more babies into the world.

As time has gone on, their ideas and priorities have changed and they now hold children of their very own. Cameron and I, however, have never faulted from our desire to have offspring, and yet I still stand barren.

Application: There are things in our lives that are unexplainable. We cannot always understand why one person conceives while another doesn’t; why one contracts cancer and another lives healthily into old age; why one survives an accident and another passes on.

What we do know, though, is that God always listens. Many times I have cried the same prayer as Hannah, yet God does not treat us all the same.

God’s answer to me is different to that of Hannah’s and to anyone else who calls out to Him. He loves us equally yet has a different plan and purpose for each individual.

Hannah did not know what God’s response would be, but she still picked herself up, ate some food and stopped being downcast. This was before she conceived and before she knew that her heart’s desire would be fulfilled.

No matter what happens in our life, with God by our side we have a choice as to how we will respond. Will we stay downcast in our despair, or will we place our hope in Christ who has the best in store for us?

Prayer: Thank You, Father, for hearing us when we cry out to You. May our hope be in You. Amen.

What is your unexplainable situation/question for God?

1 Samuel, barren, children, Friends, offspring, prayer, purpose