My experiences of integrating my faith with the challenges of infertility and adoption

I often think of infertility and adoption as a journey. A journey with no definite destination, or at least not a known destination.

For me one of the challenges of this journey has been how I bring together my thoughts, emotions and experiences of the pain of infertility and adoption trying to grow our family has been quite a journey! 

As a committed Latter day Saint, my beliefs are important to me, and I wanted to think through how I can be honest to both my emotions and to God.

Through this lens will share some aspects of the challenges as I have wrestled with them and hopefully show how I have come (somewhat) to grips with them - constantly changing as they are.

I haven't got all the answers nor will I ever, but I am taking it one day at a time and I am learning that it is not about finding the answers but living in the now, by enjoying our son that we have now and not letting this time past me by. I know this time will pass, I know we will have more children in God's time and in his own way. So I need to enjoy the now, with our son! 

Join with me in attempting to engage with the reality of infertility and adoption finding the God of hope, peace, life and love in the midst of this pain.

What does God want you to hear today?

As I reflect on God and who he is, I have been pondering what he would want to say to me as I struggle with infertility, adoption and my unanswered prayers. What might God be saying to me or to you today???

1.            I love you. You are my beloved child. You are mine

2.            You do not walk alone - I am with you always.

3.            I hear your prayers and I cry with you.

4.            Trust in me, know that I too want what is best for you.

Doesn't God answer prayers?

Do I not have enough faith?

We are often told that if we pray, then God will answer our prayers. This leaves us with the expectation that anything I ask for, if I have enough faith, God will answer, exactly as i want him to.

What do we do therefore when, as people of faith, we ask God for something and he does not seem to answer?

I find it easy to assume that I am doing it right. I need to pray more, be more spiritual; repent of something... the list can become endless.

But is this what the Scriptures means?

God won't always answer our prayers exactly when and how we might want. And yet that does not mean he does not hear our prayer.

God does hear. He is listening and He knows our needs, our pains and our fears. He cries with us. He loves us and he will answer us in his time and in his way. He knows what is best for us.

I have also been wondering about what it is that I am praying about. Praying that a successful adoption might take place…

I ask myself am I surrendering my life to Him and am I prepared to live the life that He has planned, even when it doesn't fit my expectations?

I continue to pray that I might do so...

We will continue to update you on our journey.  We do not know what the outcome will be… What I do know is that God’s hand will be shown and with time our family will grow.:)

Your friend,

Genesis