Often on this infertility journey, we look around and see what other people have. That sweet family of five, the teenager who is pregnant and can’t or won’t take care of her baby, or even your best friend or sister is pregnant, why not you or me?
Sisters, that is a trap straight from Satan. When we compare ourselves to other people, we only see the good things. We see the smiling faces, the sweet baby, but we forget that good and evil go hand in hand. We don’t know if that family of five came from fertility treatments or if they are completely dysfunctional. We may know some of the things our friend or sister has gone through to get to a beautiful pregnancy, but we don’t know her daily struggles or trials. Our path is different for better and for worse. Gal 6:4 tells us that “Each one must prove his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to anyone else, because each one must bear his own burden.” Oh sisters, it is a lie to look at a woman and say “MUST BE NICE”. We only see the good the facade. We do not know what his journey has been or will be. However, God knows. He knows which ride is best for me and which ride is best for you. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” So God knows your journey. God is on the journey, orchestrating the journey, and most of all, he is with you on the journey.
Jeremiah continues in 29:12-14a: “Then you will call on me, and come, and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found.” for you, declares the LORD, and he will bring you back from captivity. So God knows his plans for us to give us hope and a future. What is amazing is that He says THEN you will call me, and you will come and pray for me. We often dwell on the “MUST BE NICE” attitude of comparison. We feed our pain and our whys, but we do not call on the Lord. Once we put on our “God glasses” and see our lives through his perspective, then we invoke him. When that happens, He promises to be found by us and to be near us and hear our prayers. He doesn’t promise to give us what we want, but he does promise to be there.
Sisters, when we compare all we get is darkness, isolation, and pain that breeds pain. When we dare to look at our circumstances through “God’s glasses,” we can see God’s promises to give us a future and hope. Holding on to that promise during dark times, he brings us to our knees to pray to him and ultimately brings us closer to our God. He is not leading you through the darkness to destroy you, no, He is leading you through the darkness to bring you closer to Him. Let us not allow our hearts and minds to dwell on the comparison. Let’s stop at God.
Father God, I confess I have “MUST BE PRETTY-itis.” Lord, I look around me and wish for what others have, especially when it comes to children. Lord, help me see my circumstances through “God’s glasses.” Help me to hold on to the truth of Your word. Father, help me to take my thoughts captive so that I can dwell on you and not on others. Forgive me for being self-centered, give me what I need to be God-centered. Thanks for reaching out to me. In the mighty and awesome name of Jesus I pray. Amen.