I have been running a Second Chance series. After last week’s open invitation here I had several others step forward and say they would like to share their story. Memorial Day sort of put me behind the 8-ball so I will feature TC’s today and then one or two next week. I really appreciate TC’s honesty in her blogs, but never more than here.
Faith Like a Child.
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Mark 10:15 NIV
I was a teen when I believed Jesus died for my sins. My faith was new, fresh, open…like a child’s.
But as I aged, I grew skeptical of things unseen. My faith weakened as my worldly education increased. By the time I had my RN license my faith was limited to God being able to save me from hell, but unable to do more.
Medicine and science could explain anything: including why my body failed me.
You see, I couldn’t do one thing a female is created to do—reproduce.
After having endometriosis removed twice, experiencing three miscarriages—one at 20 weeks gestation—and having second opinions, I believed I would never experience the joys of motherhood.
I gave up hope.
My Christian family couldn’t believe my lack of faith. Their well meaning words fell on deaf ears. Couldn’t they understand there was nothing I could do? It didn’t matter how much I wanted a baby, I was never going to have one.
I convinced myself it was God’s will. If He wanted me to have a baby, He could have already made it happen.
So I followed my doctor’s advice—I scheduled a hysterectomy.
Unsurprisingly my family disagreed with my decision. They were very vocal about it too. Calling me numerous times, asking me to not be rash—like this was rash, it was years in the making—asking me to please trust God.
I died a little each time they called.
Didn’t they understand this wasn’t what I wanted? It was something I had to accept, something my husband had to accept, why couldn’t they?
If they only had a medical background they’d understand. You can’t argue with facts. And the facts said I wasn’t going to be a mom.
Yet, despite my adamant belief that medicine was right and faith wouldn’t change anything, I didn’t have peace about my decision. So a few days before the hysterectomy, I cancelled it.
My family took this as a positive sign. I viewed it differently—I simply didn’t want the possibility of hormone replacement. There was no “new” faith in God’s abilities.
Then my sister and her husband made an unexpected visit. They talked with me about all the times Jesus healed people in the Bible. The more they spoke God’s Word, the more I found myself hoping.
Maybe I could have a baby?
Maybe if I asked God, He’d say, “yes”!
So in my living room, I allowed them to pray for me. As they prayed I cried. I humbled myself and asked God for the one thing I thought was physically, medically, and completely impossible—a healthy baby, born full term.
After they left I wondered how I was going to tell my husband my new decision. What would he think? He’d been so supportive, but it wasn’t fair the emotional roller coaster I was putting him through.
Of course, he was thrilled to try (wink). Four weeks later, I took a pregnancy test…it was positive.
I couldn’t believe it. God answered my prayers! I was going to be a mom!
In the back of my mind doubts lingered, but I began to relax as each month progressed without complication.
My faith grew.
I was being given a second chance!
A chance I never dared to believe would happen for me.
Today, I can tell you with full confidence—nothing is too hard for God.
Dare to trust Him.
Dare to ask Him for the impossible.
And NEVER trust science or medicine more than the Word of God(click to tweet).
The Word is ALIVE. And it has the power to change your life…if you will dare to have faith like a child. Faith that knows no limit on what God can do. Faith that trusts in God more than anything in this world.
BIO- TC Avey is a Christian devoted to God, family and friends. She is passionate about encouraging Christians to live a life dedicated to Christ as well as helping them understand the importance of preserving our national freedoms through knowledge and love. She blogs at Wisdom of a Fool. You can also follow her on Twitter and GoodReads. Her book, The Precipice: When Everything We Know Ends, is available for purchase on Amazon by clicking here.
Beautiful testimony TC. It is amazing to me how often God uses little children to witness for Him, even those unborn. After six miscarriages I found myself pregnant again with a healthy baby who became our first child on this earth. Feeling life in me created this questions in my mind, what happened to those I lost, where did they go. Of course the next question was, oh, where will I go when I die, I was not saved. It was then I bought an NIV bible and started in the beginning. During the four years after our daughter was born and one more miscarriage we also had a son. So there I was, lost, seven babies gone, wondering where could they be. I got saved a month after our son was born and that question was the first one I wanted answered. So my sweet wise courageous blog friend, our little babies I am sure are playing to gether in heaven. We will see them someday, the Word convinced me that life begins at conception so then we will see them for the first time in heaven. People ask me all the time, well how old do you think they will be, will they be in perfect shape? This much I do know God does not make junk. And what ever body He chooses to wrap their sweet bodies in will be ok with me. What a testimony for the grace and power of God.
Thank you so much for sharing that, Betty!
God speaks to us in so many ways…through the life and death of children is one of the most painful and yet beautiful ways. Praise God that all you experienced brought you closer to Him and not further away- as I’m sure satan intended.
I agree, children are there now. I don’t know how any of us will look and I really don’t care. I only know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep ALL that I have committed unto Him against that day. That I will one day get to be in heaven with Him and my children (and other loved ones such as my dad) is all I need to know.
Praise God for your testimony. Thank you again for sharing. God bless.
I have always believed children are in heaven-born or unborn. Nothing will convince me otherwise.
Thanks so much for allowing me to share, Bill. I appreciate the opportunity to share with others what God has done in my life.
He’s more than able and willing to do even more in others lives.
God bless.
It is my pleasure TC. We all have stories, stories which happen to benefit others as well as ourselves.
Great story and I appreciate it. I do have one question though. If you had never gotten pregnant and had a healthy baby (I am assuming this point since you never mentioned it explicitly), would you have faith in God? There are so many people (maybe the majority of folks) who pray and pray about something, never to have it come to pass. What is their reason to continue hoping or to look to God as a savior? I do not ask this to be cynical or spirit quenching. I ask because of my own story.
Great questions, Daniel.
Three years prior to this occurrence I almost lost all my faith in God as being loving and just. I was angry with Him for so many things, but mainly for how my dad died (completely different testimony). I was in a very dark place. I began questioning everything I had once believed true about God. I was actually on a path of turning my back completely on God and my salvation.
My family and husband prayed for me as I pushed them away. I wanted to reminders of a God who was so cruel.
Then came the decision for the hysterectomy. I really had NO faith that God would answer my prayers- in fact I’d stopped praying a while before.
So when I humbled myself and prayed in my living room, it was me reaching out to God. Perhaps my last chance to believe in Him.
I think God knew the exactly what I needed. He knew how far I’d been stretched. He knows how much each of us can endure. My faith come out stronger and purer due to the fire of affliction I’d endured. Satan was working overtime to draw me away from God, but God never left me. Looking back I can see His hand working through it all.
Yes, there are many people who pray and pray and never receive the answer they want. But I think often during the process of waiting we learn more about ourselves and God. He really is loving and just. I can’t explain why some people get their prayers in a fashion they want answered and some don’t. But God has three main answers, “yes”, “no”, “Wait”.
It’s during the waiting that our faith can really be tested. And it’s when He tells us “no” that our love for Him is tested. All reveal our hearts and can be used to draw us either closer or further from God. It’s our choice.
God always has our best in mind, but satan is right here to twist all things to fit our human emotions and selfish tendencies.
Spiritual warfare is very real- more real than most believers realize.
I highly recommend reading “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge for additional help with dealing with the unanswered prayers (such as healing, salvation for a loved one, etc).
Thanks, for this great questions, Daniel. I pray it has helped. Please let me know if I can help in any other way (pray for you or answer more questions). You can get my email address from Bill or contact me on my blog or via twitter.
God bless.
thank you Daniel for your “thinking man’s” questions. You raise some good points. And thanks TC for taking the time to answer them from your standpoint. i do not and cannot answer them since I have never experienced this type of loss.
Glad to help. All part of being in the Body of Christ. No one person or select few can do the job of the entire Body.
Thanks for the thoughtful and considered reply. This was a nice piece and the number of replies seems to show that it resonated with a few folks.
Thanks, Daniel. I appreciate your comments and questions.
Awesome testimony here.
Thanks, Larry.
There is power in our testimonies. Even the worst in us can point others to God’s unconditional love and unfailing grace.
Agree Larry.
My sister had a very similar experience but never did get pregnant after trying. She did adopt two wonderful children and (in answer to Daniel’s question)never lost and has only increased her faith in God.
As an unsaved non believer I am quite sure that there are many things the medical sciences can not explain.
I suppose if I did have an interested God it would be one interested in giving me what I want.
I just can’t believe in a God that allows one pregnancy to happen and at the same time allows 10s of thousands of babies and young children to starve to death and die of diseases in their very brief lives. Not my kind of guy.
I understand where you are coming from, Jeff. (please see my reply to Daniel for additional info).
I worked as an ER RN and saw so many things that seemed unjust. Prior to being an RN I worked in the criminal justice field and again saw gross injustices in this world. How could there be a God, was a question I had faced. Once I acknowledged I believed there was a God, I had to decide how loving He really way. In all honesty, He didn’t seem very loving. So much evil in this world. So much pain.
So many things that didn’t make sense. Such as why did people like me (someone who wanted to love a child) not get one and others who abused children or were hooked on drugs have babies like they were rabbits?
This all lead to my above testimony of what God did in my life.
This world isn’t fair. But God is- we just don’t always understand it.
God gives us free will- choices- He never forces His love or grace or will upon us.
As for your sister, had she been able to conceive she may have never adopted those kids. She would have missed out on them and they on her. They needed her. God placed them in her life. I’m very glad she was given this opportunity.
As for the last part of your comment- I asked my mom that a few years back. She said perhaps babies/young children dying was more compassionate than what might have happened to have grown up. I know this is hard to accept. But sometimes having faith in who God is, is the only answer a believer can cling to.
But I think perhaps my mom was right. Maybe had those children grown up they would have suffered worse. Also, as a follower of Christ, I believe that babies/young children go to heaven (as Betty said in her comment). That’s pretty compassionate. They are in a horrible situation on Earth, but God takes them home in heaven. That’s a loving God. Only He knows the untold pain they might have continued to endure here.
I pray this helps you, Jeff.
As I mentioned to Daniel, I’m here to help in any way I can. I don’t mind answering hard questions or discussing my faith.
Thanks so much for reading/commenting.
I applaud your sister’s adoptions Jeff. She gave two children a wonderful chance at life. Even as a saved believer, I am quite sure there are medical things science can’t explain. However, at the risk of sounding a little snarky, it does sound like you want a God who will be like a magic genie-one who will give you whatever you want. I’m glad he sometimes doesn’t give me what I want. i would be a spoiled brat and probably in deep horse doo-doo.
I’m with you, Bill. If God gave me everything I wanted I wouldn’t respect Him as God (sort of like parents/kids). Also, I would be a huge ungrateful brat!
Not getting published immediately or how I wanted was one of my “unanswered prayers”…that God still answered, just not how I wanted. It taught me humility, gratitude and was a giant blessing to NOT get what I wanted.
No Bill,
I don’t want a magic genie God. I like the God we have that never interacts one way or the other. I expect nothing from God and I have never been disappointed. And it works for me that way.
I hope you didn’t take my comment wrong. I was just responding to your “i would be interested in a God who gave me what I want” comment. One thing about you I like: you are consistent. I know where you stand. However, I do wish I could somehow get you to reconsider on God. 🙂
Jeff, may I very gently observe that, in reading several of your comments over time, it appears that it is not so much you are a non believer but more that you really don’t like God very much.
From the comments you have made, I can also say that I understand that stance.
How beautiful that you can share your sister’s experience so fairly even with the stance you take about God.
Pretty good and fair observation MS. I look forward to hearing what Jeff says. 🙂
For me it isn’t about liking or not liking God. I don’t believe there is a God that interacts with this world. Whether good or bad it isn’t a God that gets the blame. As a non theist I neither blame nor thank nor understand thinking that way.
There are a lot of injustices in this world. I give God credit for none of them. I also give no credit for all of the good in this world.
You would have to be a theist to get upset with or like or not like God.
Forgive me for being presumptuous, Jeff, but I think you’re more interested in God than you realize. If you weren’t you wouldn’t bother to read/comment on blogs like Bills.
You might be surprised by this, but I have many close friends who share you’re beliefs. Overall I must say, I find it takes more faith to NOT believe in God (and a creator) than to believe there is a God who loves us and wants to be involved in our lives. But this is just my opinion based on my own relationship with God.
You might “enjoy” reading “Ascent from Darkness” by Michael Leehan- though he was a satan worshiper, he was more interested in God than he realized and over the years God used those encounters with Christians to bring him into a relationship with Christ.
You might relate to his story and you might find that you’re closer on the path to joining the family of God than you realize.
Prayers are with you…even if you don’t “want” them (wink).
TC,
I am not interested in God but I am interested in what others think about God regardless of which God, no God, or whatever version.
I have settled opinion on the subject but am open to any evidence that would change that opinion.
I don’t comment on any Blogs like Bill’s other than Bill’s. I find him very open to discussion from all angles while not being bashful about saying where he stands.
Prayers are for the prayer so feel free to pray away.
It’s good that your open to listening to others beliefs. I think it’s important we all are open to listening. There’s much to be learned for each other.
I’m happy you feel comfortable communicating with Bill, he’s a nice guy and I respect him.
Thanks for the engaging dialog. Have a wonderful evening.
I am humbled by your words Jeff. You already know I appreciate you coming by and stating your thoughts…even though I don’t always agree. But I truly hope the dialogue will continue. 🙂
TC, Wow!
I’m smiling.
And, yes, there are tears.
Thanks, Meekly. I appreciate your support. Have a blessed week.
That was a beautiful testimony, TC. I’m so glad you have your little guy! I love the way God works through our lives, teaching us lessons and using our trials to help us grow, and then blessing us with wonderful blessing like our children. So glad He answered your prayer in that way!
Thanks, Barb. I feel very blessed and know I am undeserving but God is gracious. We don’t always get what we want, but God always gives us exactly the love HE knows we need.
Have a blessed week.
Agree Barb. God does amazing things in our lives, some more amazing than others, to give us a testimony. TC is one of them. Thanks for coming by again.
Such a faith-full testimony. I am glad that God answered your prayer. But you’re right, sometimes He does His deepest work in our hearts in the painful, waiting times.
The enemy of our souls would have us ask, “Is God really good?” And sometimes it’s hard to hold on to the belief that He is when suffering happens. But, in the end, we have the Cross to look at – and that moment of gracious and merciful sacrifice will forever answer that question. Yes, God is good, and His love for us will never fail.
No matter what happens in this life…
GOD BLESS!
You are so right, Sharon! We have the cross…for the joy set before Him.
He is our joy, our hope and our future. He doesn’t always give us what we want or think we need/deserve, but that doesn’t make Him any less God. Instead it highlights our increased need for more of Him.
Often it is on the other side of trials, on the other side of let downs/pain, that I realize just how gracious God was in NOT answering my prayers. It’s just hard to see that as I’m going through it.
Even though, as you mention Sharon it is hard to see, God is good. He knows what is best for us. I am certainly glad he has not given me all my wishes and whims. Thanks for coming by and commenting.
Bill and TC,
TC, thank you for sharing this story here. Wow, I didn’t know and have been encouraged by this, and by God’s wonderful tender healing and gift to you!
Bill, re your comment on my post “Why I’m Praying for your Church,” hi Bill, yes, I’ll pray for your church when God brings it to mind (just did) and would welcome that for mine as well. It’s “Living Faith Church.” Thanks.
Jennifer Dougan
http://www.jenniferdougan.com
Thanks, Jennifer. God is good. Even if He wouldn’t have given my a child, He would still be worthy of my praise. My testimony here would simply have been different.
Sometimes He calms the storm and sometimes He calms His child (there’s an old Christian song about this).
Your response is why God uses events in our lives Jennifer. It is not for our glory but His. And thanks for praying.
Wow–I didn’t know that backstory, TC. I’m so glad that you were open to receiving the miracle. I know sometimes God doesn’t respond with a miracle. I can’t explain it. I don’t understand it. But when he says “yes” to it, all I can do is thank him for it. I’m glad he did that for you.
Thanks, Lisa. As I told Jennifer, God is good even if He doesn’t answer my prayers how I want. All are testimonies of His rich love.
For me, I think God knew how close to the precipice I was of turning my back on Him. I needed a miracle more than I think I realized at the time. Having my son has changed my life.
I think it was something God always intended for me and something satan desperately wanted to keep me from. Key was my willingness to trust and ask.
There has been many times God has told me “no”. I haven’t liked it and sometimes I haven’t understood it, but I’m coming to trust Him more and more.
Blessings.
I didn’t know any of this story Lisa until I read TC’s post. I was blown away and sat in amazement of God’s intervention. Thanks again for coming by.
Hi TC and Bill! Four weeks later??? That is a miracle, plain and simple. Wow. If you can’t believe there is a God, you need to read this. What a beautiful witness to God’s grace…and yours too, TC.
Thank you for sharing this very personal, and very powerful story.
Blessings,
Ceil
Thanks for coming by again Ceil. It is a beautiful witness.
yeah, we couldn’t believe it happened so quickly either! My husband thought I was crazy when I took the test so soon then he was completely speechless when it was positive. It was a great moment. Praise God!
While I knew your story already, TC, I am blessed to read it again. Chokes me up. What stood out this time is how God used the faith of other people in your life to build up your faith. A definite testimony to connecting with other people of faith, isn’t it? Excited for you 😉
You make a good point Kari. It is so important to realize we are not an island.
So true, Kari.
Believers need each other. We need to encourage and pray for each other- even when people like me are being stubborn 🙂
This is just so moving and beautiful. Thank you for having the courage to share this. One of my best friends is going through the troubles you’ve spoken about in this post and it’s been heartbreaking to see and his wife in so much pain. After many years and tears they’ve come to a place of hopeful acceptance about it and are now going through the adoption process. They speak often of how God has shaped their faith through this process, how the word ‘trust’ has taken on new and deeper meaning. They feel they’re on the path God intended for them, but continue to hold out hope of that path eventually leading to their having a child through conventional means too.
Thanks for sharing this, Micah. I just prayed for your friends. I know how hard it can be. I too have friends in the same situation. I’m not sure why God answers some prayers but not others.
I am learning that He is to be trusted (like your friends said) and that His ways really are better than ours.
For me, it’s in the waiting times that my faith is tested and it’s when God says, “no” that my love for Him is tested. Both tests are needed to refine me, draw me closer to Him and bring Him glory.
Adoption is a wonderful thing. So many children that need love. It’s something on our heart that we pray about often. So far we haven’t heard from God about adopting. But we don’t give up.
Thanks for sharing. God bless.
Micah thanks for commenting. while my wife and i never had any difficulty having children (we have 2 girls), as a pastor I have seen several who have. Adoption is a wonderful gift to give to a child. My brother and his wife adopted a girl from China. She is now 11. Two families in the church have adopted from China; one of them twice. I do hope and pray your friends soon find their arms full.
We have one child naturally and one through adoption, and both bless us in immense ways. The process of both becoming our children were some of the greatest and most difficult times in my life. With adoption, there’s the added blessing of giving a child a life he/she might not have had otherwise. That’s the case with our son. Said a prayer for your friends. Thank you for sharing their story!
Wonderful testimony TC! Thank God for believing relatives, when you couldn’t believe for yourself. I got chills reading this because I went through a very similar thing, although I wasn’t a Christian at the time. After a couple surgeries for endometriosis, a tube pregnancy, and two miscarriages, and the advice to have a hysterectomy my hubby and I tried to have a baby one last time. The result; Chris! We called him our miracle baby when we didn’t even know Christ, and even gave him our soon-to-be savior’s name (Christ-opher), unknowingly. A short time after having him I did have the hysterectomy, but God meant for Chris to be in this world, that’s for sure. I rejoice with you, and can definitely relate!
No coincidences with God, is there Betty Jo?
He lead you to Chris’ name even before you came into a relationship with Christ.
you have an inspiring testimony of God’s goodness and thoroughness. Thank you for sharing about your miracle baby, I know you’re very proud. Chris has a wonderful book out! Blessings to you both.
No coincidences with God, none! “A testimony of God’s thoroughness.” I’ve never thought of that term TC, but you are totally right. He is definitely thorough.
He certainly is!
I don’t believe in coincidences Betty Jo. I love what you and your husband did in naming your son.
Oh No Bill, I don’t believe in coincidences either. God had a plan before the foundations of the earth were put into place, for TC’s baby, my Chris; for all of us. Isn’t it wonderful?
I should have added “either.” 🙂
Knowing the story doesn’t diminish any of its power. Those of us who’ve walked between the worlds of non-belief and belief as if on a tightrope know things that cradle Christians can never lay claim to until they, too, walk the wire of fear, pain, doubt, and loss – but having walked it, it makes it difficult to go backwards.
Great story, TC – know that you are loved, and have a widespread family. 🙂
In this case knowing the story heightens the power. Good comment Rick. Thanks.
Wow! What an unbelievable story. And it was just four weeks later! God is good.
That it is…an unbelievable story.
Yeah, it really was remarkable! Totally God.
TC – thanks for sharing your story, your fears, and your growth in faith. Some times it is incredibly difficult to see that nothing is impossible with God. Often it feels that way in my life because I expect things to work out differently than they do. We are definitely in a period of trying to trust God as we press on to adopt 3 more children. Thanks for your encouragement.
God bless you and your wife, David. Adopting is a wonderful way to share God’s love. It can be so challenging, so much spiritual warfare- as much as God wants us to adopt and care for those who need parents, satan doesn’t want us to do that. He seeks to destroy little lives. John 10:10
praying for you and your family.
God bless.
This is such an amazing testimony, and I can’t tell you how close to home this is for us. I can’t tell you how your testimony has given me more faith that God will deliver it all in his own timing. Thank you TC for this blog post.
Happy to hear this has helped you, Lincoln. It makes opening up about personal things worth the discomfort.
Praying for you and your family. God’s timing is perfect.