“If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth, and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap. As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.”
Ecclesiastes 11:3-6
This was the inescapable passage I landed on, during our struggle with infertility. I had been preaching expositionally (chapter by chapter, verse by verse) through Ecclesiastes for about 12 weeks, and prior to starting it; we were given the news that we had a 1% chance of conceiving naturally. Needless to say, we were absolutely crushed. Jess did tell me before we got married that she more than likely had P.C.O.S. which would make conception difficult (not impossible, just abnormally difficult). I remember telling her I loved her, and that if God wanted us to have kids, we would...and if He didn't...well, we wouldn't. To be honest, I was kind of neutral on the idea of having any children. So, I spoke these words confidently seeing this thing afar off...but when we got up close...and this became our present reality...I was completely devastated.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
The doctors then recommended we try using Clomid (prescription drug therapy) to increase our likely hood to 17%. I poured my heart out to the LORD, and He responded with this passage.
Essentially, what I heard Solomon saying is, “Quit making lame excuses, for your lack of trust in God...seek His will above your own, and be obedient to Him...regardless, how things appear to play out for you."
He is very simply saying that too often we do nothing, because we are afraid of what might come. That is not a walk of faith. I mean...you’re breathing, aren't you? Why are you wasting your breath? Go! Live the life God has called you to.
What about the tree? Yeah, the tree could fall on you. Maybe the rain will come, and wash away what you planted. Maybe so...but maybe not...All a man can do, is accept the limitation of not being God; and be obedient, to what God does reveal to him.
So, if God says, "Go through the forest." Man, go through the forest! No matter how hard the wind’s blowing. If He says, “It's time to plant." Plant the seeds, even if it is already raining...plant the seeds! Don't you think He knew it was going to rain?!
Ok, so now that we cleared that up. Where do I go from here? Because now, I have this fragile little soul to parent over. Wow...How's this going to work? Will he love Jesus, love the church, love mom, love me? With all my heart, I hope...but, do I have any guarantees? Nope...but, I’m not expecting it to accidentally happen either. I'm going to work at it, even if the odds seem stacked against me.
“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:28-31
What about you? Do you know who you are? Do you know what you’re trying to become? Are you a “want to” kind of person? Do you not already have some “I wish I would have’s" in your life? They'll just keep building, until you put feet to them. What are you doing today? What are you going to do tomorrow?
You've got to boldly decide, and stay fiercely committed. Because sometimes....you just wake up, get the kids ready for school, get in your car, go to work, come home, eat, maybe watch some tv, give the kids a bath, and go to bed. Then, before you know it...your “want to’s” become “I wish I would have’s.”
God, in His infinite goodness, has brought us this far...and I'm certain, He will continue to faithfully Shepard us through the rest. We don't "want to be" good parents...we will be good parents. Not saying that in an egocentric way at all, but Theocentric!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”
What about you? Will you ascribe to the wise words of Solomon today, and discover full/rich/abundant life to be had in heeding God's call over your life, to show His goodness to others...or will you play the fool, who wastes his life in a desperate attempt to secure it, for his own sake.
Jesus said:
“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?”
Mark 8:35-37
We were created for, called back to, and commissioned out for the glory of His name!
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
Whether you parent, or don't...your life is not your own. So, by the grace of God, be bold with it! Invest it. Walk by faith, not by sight. Trust God with the results.
