Reflection

I really wasn't sure what to title this post because there are a couple major points. Yesterday I posted about our experience at the doctor's office and that we have a small hurdle to go over. We know that the Lord has it in His hands...and we pray, we talk to Him, we acknowledge that He is sovereign and ask that whatever happens He gives us the patience, and strength to handle it. Philippians 4:6 says "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." 1 Peter 5:7 says "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." We (Aaron and I) went for a long time being "anxious" about trying to conceive. Finally, God broke us to the point where we realized it was totally up to Him. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says simply "pray continually". After we got to the point of relying on God to work out His plans...we prayed continually, and so did others. 1 John 5:14 says "This is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us." The Lord heard our prayers and answered them. I will always be amazed that we can come to the Lord...our creator, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and talk to Him...even more amazing to me is that He listens and answers.

Through all this, what I wasn't able to see until some things had passed, was God's perfect timing and plan. I am truly amazed at His timing...not that it worked out in a pleasing way for me, but to see all the little things that happened that I can say "yes, that was part of the plan and I can see how it worked into the plan". Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Psalm 33:11 says "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations." Some of the things I recognized later were, specific prayers offered to the Lord, watching children over long periods of time, times where Aaron and I grew closer to each other and the Lord together, a specific prayer written in my journal. These things were all part of His wonderful plan; a plan that He put into action before creation.

Even more important than all that I have mentioned is, that through this, God is glorified. Ecclesiastes 3:14 says "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does this so that men will revere him." It was by God' hand that all these things came to be...not any work of man. He is to be praised; He is to be honored; He is to be glorified. Also, through this and any trial, or time of rejoicing...God uses these things so that we may be conformed to the image of Christ. Romans 8:29 says "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." Through this, I have been seeing some changes in both Aaron and I. We certainly have not arrived...but I feel God drawing us closer and showing us more and more of himself every day. He is also showing us things we need to work on, things we need to pray about, things we need to actively be doing.

I know that no matter what happens...with the child he has given us, or any other thing he has planned for our lives...it is all in His hands, under His control, and is working out for our good and his ultimate glory.