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NASB | Mark 11:24 "Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Mark 11:24 "For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God's will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you. |
Bible Question: I'm really going through a bad time in my life right now and I could use some uplifting. My faith is still with me, but I'm hurting inside. Since I was 25 I've been praying to have a child. And I've believed it and have been asking and waiting on the Lord. Now I'm 40 and still, no child(ren). His word says all we have to do is ask and believe but this doesn't seem to apply to me, and now I don't want to be pregnant at my age. This plus the other trials I'm going through has me feeling abadoned by Jesus. I've been reading Job but I'm not finished yet. This has helped because Job feels like I do. I'm questioning why I'm here as it seems I have no purpose. And I'm hurting in faith because I feel the Lord isn't hearing me. I don't claim to be perfect, but others have done things I'd never even think of and I see them forgiven and blessed with their desires. I try to focus on the things that haven't gone wrong lately. And I'm blessed with a loving husband, mother, father, and mother-in-law that I actually get along with! I've never asked or wanted riches, just the ability to pay what I owe. Other than that the only thing I've always prayed for over the years is a child. Fellow Christians I'm really hurting right now and I'm in need of prayer. I once learned in church the Lord doesn't always want us to have what WE want, or think we want and I get that. But if I wasn't to be a mother, why create me wanting kids because that is so painful for me. I don't go to baby showers no matter who it is because I can't take it. I break down at some point looking at all the stuff. When I see a pregnant woman I feel sad immediately and I avoid them. When my friend got pregnant (for the 2nd time), I pulled away and haven't talked to her since. But I know this is not what Jesus wants me to do. I do it because I don't want to bring anyone down, but I can't force myself to be happy as if it doesn't affect me. I'm being attacked right now and this is just one of several things going on, but this has been one of the most important to me for years now. Please pray for me as I feel like "the woman with no purpose". |
Bible Answer: Dear Godsstudent, I will be praying for you and I believe all who have read your post will pray for you, too. Please understand that God has His will on you to bring glory to Him. We are only mortal, fallible human who think like a child and reason like a child. (1 Cor 13:11) When we pray, we ask our sovereign God to make known His will not that He acts according to our desire but we submit to His will for His thoughts are not ours nor our ways are higher (Isaiah 55:8-9). David expressed his yearning for being satisfied with God’s communion in contrasting to people’s satisfaction with their children and possession (Psalm 17:14-15). I know of 2 very dear sisters in Christ, one got a son at her mid forties. She loved him so much that she had devoted herself totally onto the boy. In another word, the boy became the focus and centre of her life. One day, the little boy was taken away by God in an accident. From then on, this sister lost her purpose to live. She told me many times that she did not want to live. She did not even want to go home but just wandering on the street from morning till night when her husband returned home. Her mourning went on for about 3 years. Another sister has the same situation as yours. She had been longing for a child after her marriage, but nothing happened. She also had that same jealousy as yours when she faced with pregnant sisters. [Again, God’s way is higher than ours] She was diagnosed with breast cancer at her mid forties. This trial has changed her so much that she became more grateful to what God has given her. She started to focus on God instead of herself. In God’s perfect plan and grace, she responded to His calling to start a bible study group at her workplace in mainland China – a blessing to many. Though in 1 Cor 7:32-35 Paul talked about being single or getting married. I think it also applies to the couples who have children that the fact is we are so much distracted in our devotion to our Lord. You say: “I've never asked or wanted riches, just the ability to pay what I owe.” God does not owe us anything and we also cannot repay Him for what we owe as well. Talk to your pastor about your feeling towards your fellow Christians. Will you consider adopting a child? Ever blessing. Ps 113:9 He makes the barren woman abide in the house As a joyful mother of children. Praise the LORD! Shalom Azure |