GOOD NEWS!
Let’s be honest, for many women who are investing in their reproductive health and working to advocate for themselves, it’s because there’s something going on. Cycles are irregular. Periods are painful. PMDD is overwhelming. Pregnancy isn’t happening. Dealing with reproductive struggles is incredibly difficult. It weighs on us emotionally, as well as physically. It stirs up questions about worth, purpose, and value. It tempts us to compare ourselves with others. It’s an effort to fight off envy.
Yet, we continue on. We make the choice to pursue answers and healing. We offer up ourselves — and our reproductive systems — to a faithful God in whom we trust. We learn as much as we can about our bodies and about charting our cycles. We educate ourselves so that we can advocate for ourselves. We tell our friends, so that they can get quality care, too.
But what if it’s not enough?
It’s a terrifying thought — that all this work will be fruitless.
Our church recently introduced me to a song performed by the Porter’s Gate, an ever changing group of singers and songwriters who come together to create worship music. As I heard the words, I couldn’t help but think of my clients — the women and couples I work with who keep showing up to do the work week after week, month after month.
Maybe you find yourself in a season of doing hard, ceaseless work, as well — whether the focus is on reproductive struggles, mothering, writing, or anything else.
Maybe you, too, wonder if it’s enough?
Maybe you wonder…
— whether it’s worth the effort?
— whether you’re making a mistake?
— whether or not there’s hope?
— whether or not you really can be satisfied?
Then this song is for you.
The absolute beauty of this song’s message?
The reason that our labor is not in vain is because God is with us in the labor.
It’s not dependent on the outcome! It’s not dependent on getting answers, or knowing how things end!
Through the good and the bad, the seasons of abundance and scarcity, the feelings of hope and despair — God is with us.
It’s God’s presence that makes this work worth it — makes it holy.
If we choose to encounter God in the daily work of our lives, it becomes a holy and healing work.
God has not promised to take away our pains and sufferings, or give us quick answers, or remove us from the trials of life. But he has promised to walk with us through each and every one. That includes even reproductive struggles, my friends.
It’s not lost on me that this song is inspired by 1 Corinthians 15:58 —
Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that, in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.
— a verse at the end of a chapter about the beauty and glorification of our bodies!
These struggles we experience? They are very real, but also temporary.
These bodies that sometime fail us? Will one day be glorified.
Death, which should be our ultimate fear? Where is its sting?
Our hope? It comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, and of you and me.
What does “I am with you” look like in this season for you? What helps you to experience God’s presence through challenging seasons of life? As always, I look forward to your charitable engagement in the comments section!
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As a reminder, Fertile Faith is written by Caitlin Estes. Caitlin is the Owner and Certified FertilityCare Practitioner at Woven Natural Fertility Care, and feels passionate about providing empowering fertility education to women. Woven talks openly about the deep relationship between fertility and faith. As a Christian, Caitlin feels passionate about God’s good design of our bodies and fertility, and how this area of our lives can be incredibly fruitful, spiritually.