Longing for a Child : Devotions of Hope for Your Journey Through Infertility

My story is different from yours, but the pages of our lives share a common theme. Silent suffering. The longing for a child. Think of my book as your companion of hope, a ray of sunshine, to shine truth, encouragement, and perspective on your situation. -Kathe Wunnenberg Infertility is a deeply private pain that is often misunderstood by those who have not experienced its seasons of longing and loss. Whether you recently tried to have a child or have struggled for years to conceive, Longing for a Child is a compassionate companion full of hope, healing, and practical help. Offering biblical perspectives and moving stories of others who have struggled with infertility, sixty heartfelt devotions connect you securely to God during this time of waiting, heartbreak, and questioning. Each devotion contains a Scripture, short thematic story, prayer, reflective questions, and a space for journaling. Meditations for special occasions, such as Mother's Day, are also included. An encouraging devotional companion that can be used by individuals, couples, or groups, Longing for a Child speaks directly to the heart, meeting you wherever you are on your journey through infertility.

Longing for a ChildCopyright © 2005 by Kathe WunnenbergRequests for information should be addressed to:Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530ISBN-10: 0-310-25665-8ISBN-13: 978-0-310-25665-6 (hardcover)This edition printed on acid-free paper.All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New InternationalVersion®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used bypermission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.The website addresses recommended throughout this book are offered as a resource to you.These websites are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement on the part of Zondervan,nor do we vouch for their content for the life of this book.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, orany other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of thepublisher.Interior design by Michelle EspinozaPrinted in the United States of America05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 /?DCI/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1Section OneLongingLonging: A strong, persistent desire or cravingfor something unattainable or distant.Delight yourself in the Lordand he will give you the desires of your heart.Psalm 37:4My soul is in anguish.How long,O LORD, how long? . . .I am worn out from groaning,all night long I flood my bed with weepingand drench my couch with tears. . . .The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;the LORD accepts my prayer.Psalm 6:3, 6, 9All my longings lie open before you, O Lord;my sighing is not hidden from you.Psalm 38:9Devotion 1Journey to the Dunes of DesireThe LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; hewill never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do notbe discouraged.Deuteronomy 31:8When our veteran “duner” friends Mark and Stephanie invited us to jointheir family for a weekend at the Imperial Sand Dunes, we accepted.It was the perfect opportunity to try out our new twenty-six-foot trailer withbath and shower amenities (a must for me!)—sporting our two new quads. Cladin my new steel-toed boots, matching chest protector, gloves, and helmet, Imounted my quad and pushed the start button. VRMMMMM.. .The Imperial Dunes extend for more than forty miles in southern California,southwestern Arizona, and into Mexico. Mountain-sized mounds of sandrange from two to six miles in width, with crests rising two to three hundred feetabove the surrounding landscape. Hollywood cameras have depicted these dunesas the desert for numerous war scenes and science-fiction planets. A popularwinter destination for sports enthusiasts, the Dunes buzz with sand rails, buggies,quads, and motorcycles. The seemingly endless sandscape is beautiful,thrilling, eerie, treacherous.Although I had ridden motorcycles in the Midwest during my youth, myforty-something body was unfamiliar with the quad’s finger throttles and paddletires . . . and the sand. Could I maneuver this terrain or would I crash? Mystomach churned with excitement and anxiety. My mind swirled with uncertaintyas I released the clutch and sputtered behind my friend Stephanie. I feltcomfortable driving along the flat, open road of sand. I can do this! I thought.Then I saw the iceberg of sand rising up in front of me. Stephanie maneuveredher quad effortlessly up and over.Fear gripped me. Should I turn back? I waited. Then I looked up and sawStephanie at the top of the crest waving me on. I gulped. I opened the throttle,and moments later I was beside her. During the next few hours we traversedover the crests and through the canyons of sand. As I sped behind the packacross the open plain, I sensed something familiar about this journey. It seemedsimilar to my quest to have a child.In the camp with other childless sojourners and robed with a new attire ofperspectives, attitudes, feelings, and terminology, I had faced the Dunes of MyDesire. At times the ride was exhilarating. At other times, exasperating. Nearingeach crest, I wondered what lay waiting for me on the other side. I experienceda repeating cycle of fear and dread followed by accomplishment and hope.Fueled by my desire, I was able to keep going, no matter how endless and treacherousthe terrain seemed. Though at times I wanted to turn back, I continued.Looking up I could always find someone at the top of the crest who had climbedthe mountain I was facing, waving me on.Where are you in your journey? Perhaps this is your first encounter, and youare camped at the foot of the Dunes, ready to gear up and go. Or perhaps you’vebeen riding through the sands of uncertainty for a long time, lost with no endin sight. Maybe you are facing a three hundred-foot mountain today and don’tknow if you have what it takes to make it up the slope. Maybe you are plummetingdown into a canyon.Wherever you are, just know that you are not alone, though at times youmay feel as if you are. God is there—and others are too. Look up! Just when youthink you can’t make it, you may see someone standing at the top of the mountaincheering you on. That’s where I am now. Picture me waving you on andshouting, “You can do it!” Ready. Set. VRMMMMMM.. .Lord, I feel as if I’m facing an endless journey. I’m afraid. I’ve never done thisbefore, and I don’t like feeling uncomfortable and uncertain. Help me in myjourney. Guide my ride.Give me courage.Thank you for providing others tocheer me on. Fuel me with your Word and wisdom as I face the Dunes ofDesire to have a child.Amen.Steps toward Growth1. Reflect on where you are in your journey. At the campsite?Ready to ride? Riding up? At the base of one dune with anotherto face? At the top of a crest? Over the final crest?2. Reread Deuteronomy 31:8. How does this verse encourage you?3. Read Matthew 14:26–27 as if Jesus were speaking to youpersonally.4. Picture Jesus at the top of a dune waving you on. What steps willyou take this week to have courage and continue in your ride?

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Excerpted from Longing for a Child: Devotions of Hope for Your Journey Through Infertility by Kathe Wunnenberg
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