14 Days of Strength in Any StruggleSample

Believing Against Hope That the Harvest is Coming by Jen Schmidt

When our son and daughter-in-love found out they had a minute chance of having biological children, we were all devastated. Infertility isn’t often addressed from a future grandmother’s point of view, but watching your child be filled with such heartbreak and face closed doors is a pain for which I wasn’t prepared. Yet amidst such disappointment, the Lord has drawn me closer.

For years, I’ve held our son and daughter-in-love’s sorrow near to my heart. I’ve wrestled hard with the Lord over this diagnosis, and He’s okay with that. I’ll admit that I’ve even gotten a little judgy, pointing fingers at others and wondering, Why them and not us?Yes, these thoughts have bubbled up, yet God welcomes my questions, my cries, and even my dashed dreams.

As the months turned to years, we were invited to claim Galatians 6:9 as our pillar of hope: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

With that goal, I’ve decided to guide my heart of sadness toward declarations of praise for the Lord’s faithfulness and to walk with those journeying through silent suffering. Does this change our kids’ prognosis? No. Are there still questions and uncertainty? Absolutely. But I persevere and trust in His goodness. I choose to believe His promise and hope in a plentiful harvest because it will come at the Lord’s “proper time.” I have no idea what that will look like, but I wait as God continues to write the story for my children.

While He delights in showing His power through miracles, my expectant prayers have shifted: Lord, please expand their family in any way that brings You the most glory. This is hard, but it’s all for You.

And shouldn’t that be our cry every day? With work or neighbors, family or friends?

Show me how to bring You the most glory, Lord. Every single choice is all for You.

Let’s not become weary in our wait. His harvest is coming.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. GALATIANS 6:9 NIV

What are you finding God’s strength in today?