Faith and Hope in the Journey to Parenthood
Summary
The journey of waiting and hoping for a child can be filled with both anticipation and heartbreak. Each month brought renewed hope, only to be met with disappointment and the realization that the path to parenthood was more challenging than expected. Experiencing a chemical pregnancy in early 2022 was a moment of deep sorrow, a reminder that sometimes our plans do not align with God’s timing. This loss was not just a medical event, but a spiritual trial that required a new level of faith and trust in God’s goodness, even when the outcome was not what was hoped for.
As the year turned and the holidays approached, the decision was made to begin exploring fertility treatments. Yet, even in the midst of uncertainty, there was a commitment to remain faithful—especially in giving and generosity. During the Christmas season, a special moment arose to declare bold faith for breakthrough. Writing the desire for a family on a board and breaking it in faith was an act of surrender and expectation, trusting that God could do what seemed impossible.
Entering the new year, there was a sense of expectancy, not just for medical intervention, but for God’s intervention. Plans were made to start fertility treatments, but God’s timing proved to be different and better than anticipated. Before treatments could even begin, the news came: a baby was on the way, due in December. This story is a testament to the power of persistent faith, the willingness to trust God’s timing over our own, and the importance of remaining generous and hopeful even in seasons of waiting.
Key Takeaways
- Faith is often forged in seasons of waiting and disappointment. When hopes are repeatedly deferred, it is easy to become discouraged, but these moments can deepen our reliance on God and refine our trust in His character, even when we do not understand His timing. [00:32]
- Loss and unanswered prayers are not signs of God’s absence, but invitations to draw closer to Him. In the pain of a chemical pregnancy, there was an opportunity to experience God’s comfort and to learn that His love is steadfast, even when circumstances are not. [01:10]
- Bold prayers and declarations of faith are not about manipulating outcomes, but about aligning our hearts with God’s promises. Writing down the desire for a family and breaking the board was a physical act of surrender, expressing hope while leaving the results in God’s hands. [01:56]
- Generosity and faithfulness in giving, even during personal trials, can be a powerful act of worship. Choosing to continue giving during the holidays, despite uncertainty, was a way of saying that trust in God is not conditional on circumstances. [01:40]
- God’s timing often surprises us, arriving in ways and moments we least expect. Just as plans for fertility treatments were being made, God intervened with the gift of new life, reminding us that His plans are always for our good, even when the journey is long and difficult. [02:45]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - The Hopeful Waiting
[00:32] - Facing Disappointment
[01:10] - Experiencing Loss and Faith
[01:25] - Deciding to Seek Help
[01:40] - Faithfulness in Giving
[01:56] - Declaring Breakthrough
[02:10] - Entering the New Year with Expectation
[02:20] - Preparing for Fertility Treatments
[02:30] - God’s Unexpected Intervention
[02:45] - The Joyful Announcement
[03:00] - Looking Forward with Hope
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
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### Bible Reading
- Romans 8:24-28
_"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently... And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."_
- Psalm 27:13-14
_"I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."_
- James 1:2-4
_"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."_
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### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 8:24-28, what is the relationship between hope, waiting, and God’s purpose?
2. In the sermon, what specific event marked a turning point from hope to disappointment for the couple? [00:32]
3. What physical act did the couple do during the Christmas service to express their faith and surrender to God? [01:56]
4. How did the couple respond in their giving and generosity during a season of uncertainty? [01:40]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might God allow seasons of waiting and disappointment, according to both the sermon and James 1:2-4? How can these seasons shape a person’s faith?
2. The sermon mentions that loss and unanswered prayers are not signs of God’s absence. What does this suggest about how we should interpret difficult circumstances in our lives? [01:10]
3. What does it mean to declare bold faith without trying to manipulate God’s outcomes, as seen in the act of breaking the board? [01:56]
4. How does remaining generous and faithful in giving, even during personal trials, reflect trust in God’s character? [01:40]
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a time when you were waiting for something important. How did you respond when things didn’t go as you hoped? What did you learn about God or yourself in that season? [00:32]
2. The couple experienced a loss that was both medical and spiritual. If you have faced a loss or disappointment, how did it affect your faith? Did it draw you closer to God or make you question Him? [01:10]
3. The act of writing down their desire and breaking the board was a way to surrender their hopes to God. Is there something you are holding onto tightly that you need to surrender? What would a physical act of surrender look like for you? [01:56]
4. During the holidays, the couple chose to keep giving generously even when their own future was uncertain. Is there an area in your life where you find it hard to be generous or faithful because of your own needs? What might it look like to trust God in that area? [01:40]
5. The couple planned for fertility treatments, but God intervened in an unexpected way. Have you ever experienced God answering a prayer in a way you didn’t expect? How did that change your perspective on His timing? [02:45]
6. The sermon talks about remaining hopeful and expectant, even when the journey is long. What practical steps can you take to keep hope alive during a season of waiting?
7. If someone in your life is going through a season of waiting or disappointment, how can you support them in a way that points them to God’s faithfulness?
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Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God’s Timing in Uncertainty
When faced with disappointment and waiting, it can be tempting to lose hope or try to force our own solutions. Yet, even when our plans seem delayed or denied, God’s timing is always perfect. Trusting Him means believing that He is working behind the scenes, even when we cannot see the outcome. In seasons of waiting, faith is refined and deepened, and we are invited to surrender our timelines to the One who knows what is best for us. [01:56]
Ecclesiastes 3:1 (ESV)
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.
Reflection: Where in your life are you struggling to trust God’s timing, and how can you surrender that area to Him today?
Day 2: Boldly Asking God for Breakthrough
There are moments when God calls us to step out in faith and make bold requests, even when the outcome seems impossible. Writing down a prayer or breaking a symbolic board in belief are acts that declare our trust in God’s power to do what only He can do. Bold prayers are not about demanding our way, but about expressing confidence in God’s ability and willingness to move on our behalf. [01:56]
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Reflection: What is one bold prayer you can bring before God today, trusting Him for breakthrough?
Day 3: Faithfulness in Giving During Difficult Seasons
Even in times of personal struggle or uncertainty, remaining faithful in generosity and offerings is an act of worship and trust. Giving when it feels costly demonstrates that our hope is not in our circumstances, but in God’s provision. It is a declaration that He is our source, and that we believe He will take care of every need, even as we wait for our own prayers to be answered. [01:56]
2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.
Reflection: Is there an area where God is inviting you to be generous, even when it feels difficult? How can you respond in faith today?
Day 4: God’s Plans Are Greater Than Our Own
Sometimes, even after we make our own plans and prepare for a certain path, God intervenes in unexpected ways. His plans often surpass what we could imagine, reminding us that He is sovereign and loving. When God redirects our steps, it is an invitation to trust that His ways are higher and that He is working all things together for our good. [02:45]
Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)
Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Reflection: Can you recall a time when God’s plan for you was different—and better—than your own? How did you respond, and what did you learn?
Day 5: Expecting God’s Goodness in the Future
Living with expectation means believing that God is not finished writing your story. Even after seasons of loss or disappointment, He invites you to hope again and to look forward to the new things He is doing. Expectancy is not wishful thinking, but a confident hope rooted in God’s faithfulness and love. [02:45]
Romans 15:13 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to renew your expectation of God’s goodness? How can you actively choose hope today?
Quotes
I remember in the beginning it was always we would pull out all these tests and we'd be hopeful for that moment of okay well this is going to be the month this is going to be the month where we get to get a positive pregnancy test and realizing that it was much harder than we thought it was gonna be. [00:00:04]
We had gotten a positive test in February of 2022 and we quickly realized that it wasn't in God's plan yet for us to have that baby. [00:00:26]
We found out from the doctors that I had experienced a chemical pregnancy, which is basically where the baby just didn't the baby didn't stick and it wasn't meant to see earth side so that was our first real realization that it was gonna take a lot of faith for us to get through this and that. [00:00:38]
In November, December of 2023, we had a discussion together that we would start investigating fertility treatments. [00:01:33]
It was the holidays and we knew that we wanted to continue to be faithful in our giving and our offerings. [00:01:42]
Something that was coming up just in a few weeks was Greatest Gift. [00:01:49]
The pastor actually had this moment during our Christmas. Christmas services where he was talking about breakthrough. [00:01:54]
I remember writing on our boards for that service that God would provide us a family in 2024. [00:02:03]
And I remember like, thinking, wow, that's bold, you know, to say. [00:02:12]
But we broke that board in belief, and we went into the new year expecting what God was gonna do for us. [00:02:18]
And in March of this year, we found the good doctor, and in two weeks, we were going to start those fertility treatments. [00:02:28]
But God had other plans. [00:02:38]
That's right. [00:02:45]
Not only were we expecting, but we're expecting a baby in December of this year. [00:02:53]
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