[kbarley]

Ladies,


It is very obvious that this forum is full of Christian woman so I just had to share. Like many of you, I've spent a lot of time in church services and bible studies and I'm sure that I have heard the story of Hannah long before now. However, I read it recently and it truly helped me to exhale. So, when/if you have the chance please read it and if possible, read it from a Woman's Devotional Bible or at least a version that breaks it down a bit. And, please share your thoughts.


Kori

[dndtaylor]

Thanks Kari ... my good friend Jen has talked to me about this many of times. I need to stop talking about it and truly read it and absorb it. Thanks for sharing. Also, I'm so glad that there are so many Christian ladies on here, it helps to know that others can relate to the faith while ttc. Hugs and blessings to you!

[momdad2bee]

Thank you for sharing - I am going to look into reading this!

[jenedens6102]

Kori, I actually have been praying through 1 Samuel 1:11 since June 3rd! My husband and I (well it was me with DH supporting me) went through an anointing ceremony at church on June 3rd. It was two days after our 5 year anniversary. I'd been having a rough time after our miscarriage and still dealing with the struggle that we'd been through with our infertility and I needed cleansing. This is a passage that our pastor shared with us and it touched me deeply. There are many women in the bible who struggled to conceive and in the end their prayers were heard and answered in mighty ways. So imagine my joy when my prayers too were heard and again answered! I still pray through this passage many times a day only here is my version: "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a child, then I will give that child to the Lord for all the days of his or her life." I'm not praying for a son but a child and no matter the gender our promise is true, we will raise this child up for God.

[kbarley]

Jen - Thank you for sharing. I have thought many times about asking for what we call "special prayer" at church because I think DH and I could truly use some annointing. However, I can't bring myself to share. Perhaps I'll reconsider after hearing how energized you felt.

Devan & Jackie - Please take some time to read and absorb this scripture some time soon. Don't ask me why, but I felt like such a weight was lifted when I read it. I guess because this site has been wonderful by connecting me with other woman who can understand and empathized with what I'm going through. However, for me to see that woman in the Bible have been where I am and were blessed in the end, it gives me even more hope!

[jenedens6102]

Kori, it was an amazing experience. I wasn't looking to be "healed" of my infertility but for a cleansing and renewal of my spirit after so many years of failures and the loss of our first pregnancy. My experience was a bit different then most. My pastor had me sit in the front pew and he poured what amounted to about a shot glass worth of oil right on top of my head. I had a towel drapped around my shoulders in case any dripped down with it didn't. I have thick hair and the oil just soaked right in. Then he asked my husband to sit next to me and lay hands on me. Then the pastor laid hands on my other shoulder. He informed the congregation (many of them knew but some didn't) of our situation, the struggles we endured, our miracle pregnancy and then the unfortunate loss we suffered just weeks later (this is how many of the congregation knew of our situation was when we did conceive and then lost that pregnancy). So he looked at me and gave me a few points in scripture and told me he could understand my spirit being broken, my heart needing to be mended and that women throughout history are living proof of the miracles of God. Then he invited the congregation to pray with him for us. I was balling like a baby after the prayer started and just couldn't contain myself, I kept quiet don't get me wrong but an ocean of tears really escaped. Afterwards so many came up and hugged us, gave us their best wishes and their prayers and encouraged us to never take our eyes from God that He'd get us through. It was that day that we decided to stop taking the fertility blend, no more interferring with God's work. We didn't monitor, didn't check the calendar, didn't do anything for the next few weeks. I had my period on the 16th and knew that from that point forward it was all going to be different for us. We lost our first pregnancy on March 20th and had to wait until June 20th before we could start trying again. I had my annual/post miscarriage appointment with my OB on the 25th and got the all clear to go. I ovulated on the 29th and here we are! The blessing for us, what brings it full circle, is that this baby is due March 22nd - almost a year to the day after losing our first pregnancy. God is good, all the time!

[Ladybuglee]

Kori - I have part of that passage hanging on my refrigerator. I am going right now to read and pray through the entire chapters. Recently I have been so hopeless. I try so hard not to get mad at God, and HE knows my heart. I haven't turned away, as I still pray all day - for everyone else. Right now, I've stopped praying for my baby. I still have faith that we will be blessed, but right now it hurts too much to talk with God about it. I'm praying for that to change, because I miss the reassurance from Him that I always get when I pray specifically.

Jen - what a wonderful testimony! We have had many people at church pray for us, lay hands on us, etc... We have gone to the healing room as well. I know we will be blessed - it's just so hard to wait.

Anyway, thanks so much ladies. I'm praying for everyone at every stage of their journey.

[kbarley]

Liza - I totally understand! Right now God and I seem to be on-again, off-again because at times I feel hopeful and others I feel hopeless. I think I should do what you've done and hang that scripture up somewhere where I can see it everyday! I have started trying to read it nightly but I think I need to look at it 24/7.

[jenedens6102]

I have the scripture printed off four different times. I keep one in the visor so that while I'm driving if the sun gets in my eyes and I pull it down I'm reminded to pray. I have one at work just under my monitor and I see it and pray every morning and multiple times throughout the day at work. I have one sitting behind the faucet of the sink in my bathroom. As I'm brushing my teeth each morning I'm reminded to pray. And I have one that I use as a book mark. Since I seem to always be reading now it's another friendly reminder. Oh wait, I have five because I also have one in my pregnancy journal.

I know that it's easy and hard at the same time to feel disconnected from God during these times of struggle and trial in our lives. I've been there, done that too! But God does know your hearts so even if you aren't praying He knows what you need and what you are looking for. He's right there with you even when you feel He's nowhere to be found. Don't ever think that He doesn't care for your situation because He does. Another verse that has really helped me is in John where He says "In this world you will be faced with trouble but fear not for I have overcome the world." Those aren't exact words because I don't have my bible in front of me but you get the just of what I'm saying. He's overcome it all for us and He'll get us through. We are in the refiners fire right now and he's pruning you, shaping you, and making you to be a jewel in the end - He's making a way for you!