The sound of answered prayer
My heart is so full of emotions right now. I have prayed for many things in my life, and I have experienced answered prayers but not as tangible as I have this last week. Over 10 years ago my sister tried to conceive a child. There was no reason why she could not carry a child. Her and her husband went through the daily hormone shots, only to face disappointment each month. I know many of our readers can relate to this.
Then they decided to go through in vitro fertilization , and even though it was a financial drain they believed at the time it was worth every penny. The in vitro fertilization did not work either; it was met with a great amount of tears from my sister and me.
Why Lord? There is no medical reason she should not be able to carry a child, even the doctors said this. There is nothing I have prayed for and cried for more, as a sister. I spent so much time with my face on the floor begging him to give her one child.
The Lord led them to an adoption agency and through a series of events Russia was laid strongly on their hearts. They never considered domestic adoption because of the legal problems that could possibly occur. The plans were being laid for my sister to go and get my new niece in Russia. I have never been more excited and proud as a sister and Aunt. A few weeks before she was ready to leave, the agency called and said, “we know you are not considering domestic adoptions but there is a baby about to be born and the Mom looked at your file and selected the both of you, would you be interested?” In the span of a few days, my sister and her husband went to finding out they were going to be parents, to picking up their new daughter at the hospital. Then a few weeks later they had to leave their new daughter behind to go and retrieve my new Russian niece. Two daughters in less than a month. Wow, how the Lord can not only bless, but go beyond your wildest dreams. We were in awe.
Life changed on a dime and they were suddenly a family of four, it was amazing and exciting to be apart of it. Then I got a call around August time with my sister telling me she was pregnant, what could I do but laugh and fall on my face before God crying. They were not even really trying for this new blessing, but the Lord opened up her womb.
The crying sound of my new niece born at the end of May is a sweet sound of answered prayer. I can not speak for my sister, but I know I would not have had this journey go any differently. Yes there was heartache, I shed many tears for my sister; but the Lord took the dream of adopting a little girl from Russia and blew it out of the water. I am now the proud Aunt of three nieces who I know were born specifically for our family.
Some times the Lord answers prayers and you give him praise, but sometimes he shows up in such a big way that you can do nothing but sob your eyes out ( just like I am now writing that sentence).
Through the pain God is there, even when things don’t turn out how you originally thought. And dear readers, I am only passing on what God has shown me. You may not receive what you specifically prayer for but God will show up in other mighty ways, he loves you so much.
Heavenly Father, thank you for unanswered prayers and just plain blowing our minds sometimes. Forgive me when I try to place you in a box and try to understand your ways. To you be all the glory and praise! Amen
Amen. Hallelujah. And Amen.
Congratulations on the recent birth of your third niece.
May God be glorified in this testimony of faithfulness!!
Very Nice Post! I am thankful for my wonderful kids and great wife!
I am totally picturing Hannah’s story overlaying yours. Not only did Hannah get Samuel, she was blessed with many more children as well.
Sometimes, the hardest answer for us to accept from God is “not yet.” That leaves us in permanent limbo as we wait for God’s timing, which is always perfect.
Well done, Laurel. A wonderful tribute to God, your sister, and yourself. As a multiple-years-of-trying-to-conceive “alumni”, I do not say this lightly: the biggest pains or infertility can be so small next to God’s amazing grace!
My heart grieves for those whose wombs remain empty. There are no words that adequately ease the pain. I am so thankful for the blessings your sister has known, and they are worth celebrating. May her “triplets” be the joy of her heart for years to come.
peace~elaine
WOW! What an amazing example of how God’s plans are infinitely better than our own…
Congrats to the family!
Thank you for sharing your journey and how God worked things out perfectly for your sister’s family. This was a beautiful post.
wow that is SO awesome Laurel! I have a sister too who cannot have children of her own…
God is God and He is good! Every way a child can come, that’s how He Blesses us, filled and overflowing….always.
hugs hugs hugs,
Shan
Awww Laurel, this is such a beautiful testimony! Thank you for sharing and congratulations on your three blessings.
Congrats Auntie, such sweet blessings.
This is a testament to His Word that He gives us so much MORE than we could ever ask or imagine if we seek Him with all our heart…rejoicing with you…
Sita
This one is a hard one. Two fold. My sister has no children and desires one so bad, she is 33.
And then I have three daughters but they are exactly 5 & 1/2 years apart. I’ve never been on birth control. We’ve been trying the entire time. My youngest will be 7 soon. Some months I spend crying when my time comes. The questions of why and trying to find in God’s word where it says I shouldn’t want more. Then feeling selfish because He blessed me with 3, who am I to ask for more? The desire so deep. I question, is the desire there because I am selfish or did He place the desire there for a reason.
Every door in the physical realm is closed. My husband is a convicted felon from his youth before we met. That stops us from foster care, adoptions, whether domestic or international. I know I’m getting older and soon my child bearing years will be gone. I try so hard to be content with what I have. I’m doing so much better. I only have a bad month every now and then instead of every month.
I know that He has a plan. I do trust Him. I cast down my thoughts of doubt. I love Him, I praise Him. Whether I have another child or not it will not change my love for Him nor will it hinder my faith. Above all else I pray HIS WILL BE DONE and not my own. I would never want a child that wasn’t in His plan for me to have.
But I must crucify this ole flesh every day. Everywhere I turn there is someone pregnant. I am practicing rejoicing for them. Praying for the unwed pregnant teenager. Instead of asking why, I say out loud, “Lord you are in control and You know what You are doing, I trust You, now show me how to pray. Show me what You want me to do. I talk about it less except in these instances where I feel its alright to share. And I know that my situation is not as hard as others. I know God can open doors and that anything could happen, from adoptions to conception, If He wills it!
So…all that. Too much information I know, just to say…I can relate to your sisters pain and to yours. I cry out to God to open her womb as well. This story that you have shared brings a renewed hope and a great reminder. Praise God for those children. Talk about a double portion! Hallelujah!!! I am truly, truly, truly so over joyed for you both. Answered prayer. Its a precious thing.
Thank-you. And God Bless You!!
What a GREAT post! THANK YOU! My name is also Laurel, we were never able to have bio children–so we adopted 2 from Russia! They are the lights of our lives! Our daughter has some learning/developmental delays but is the SWEETEST thing you’ve ever met. Our son is BRIGHT beyond compare! They are not bio sibs but are best friend-brother and sister! Both love God and Jesus FIERCELY and pray with and for each other daily!
Congrats on your 3 nieces! So special!
Laurel
Oh Laurel,
I just want to fall to my knees and praise our Lord. This is just like Him…. He receives all the honor, glory, worship and your sister’s family is blessed indeed.
Awesome, Wonderful…. Thank you Lord! I am praising you with tears in my eys this morning too.
Love you Laurel.
What an awesome story! I love hearing stories like this. Praise the Lord for His goodness to your family. I’ve experience getting on my knees for women who want to experience the giving of birth and motherhood. Sometimes, I would tell them, “if I could take out my womb for you, I would.” And we would cry together.
In fact, my husband had a cousin who had the same experience. Well, not exactly. They adopted one daughter from the US. Then they had three girls and one boy then twin boys. They went through the same odeal your sister went through. God is faithful. Sometimes, He wants us to display our obedience to Him through loving a deserving child.
God bless y’all.
You are right, Laurel. Sometimes we try to put our God in a box – but His much bigger than to fit into a box. Sometimes I think that I just have tunnel-vision and just can’t see the blessings around me…
Thank you so much for sharing your heart with us and congratulations to your third niece – how awesome is that!!!!
Ha – my ‘spam’ word is “Hope” – how do you like that?
What a beautiful, encouraging story Laurel. There are times we wonder if God even hears our prayers, but He is always faithful. I think He loves to surprise us with gifts beyond our imagining.