We Are Hopeful, Patient, and Prayerful

There is one thing that I have found in my journey toward being a Mother, you've got to remember to praise God for the hard times as well as the happy times.  I have been so blessed to have seen the words "PREGNANT" on my pregnancy test twice.  I will never forget how thankful I was to see it the first time and I don't know that I've ever felt so thankful than I was the second.  Of course, neither of those turned out like I had hoped, but I know God has another plan for me.  

When my thankfulness and happiness changed to heartbreak and despair both times, I also praised God.  I actually think I had more of a peace and a feeling of praise the second time.  I am not sure if it was the difference that seven months of growing with God from the first miscarriage to the second or if it was the new sense of priority that I developed after the fire, or both, but I felt an overwhelming peace in the OB office that day.  I became so full of praise that I had accomplished the one hurdle many couples face, of not being able to get pregnant, not only once, but twice. (I know that there are many of you out there that have not been able to get pregnant and I pray that you will get to experience that joy SOON!)  My OB, whom I love so much, keeps reminding me of that fact and telling me not to lose HOPE.  How awesome is it that my OB tells me to have HOPE?! 

I have had to stop so many times and remember that I need to have HOPE and patience, and pray for help from God to have HOPE and patience.  This is hard for me more times than not, but when I start to get down and I start to lose my HOPE, I have to remember Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and persistent in prayer."  I have had to lean on that one A LOT over the past few months!  What more do we need to remember about TTC other than to be joyful, hopeful, patient, and prayerful?  That pretty much sums it up for me.

I have always been someone that is very optimistic and hopeful (almost too much most of the time!).  However, patience is NOT my thing!  Ha!  The past eighteen months has taught me so much, and I feel that God is above all trying to teach my patience and to have more faith in Him.  He knows what he is doing and I think it is to teach me to lean on Him and have at least a little patience.  I have also been guilty of not being the most prayerful person.  I am not proud of that, but I am doing so much better.  I think this verse is almost speaking directly to me.  God wants to make sure that I am joyful in my hope, patient in my troubles, and persistent in prayer.  

Here is a song that speaks to me on some many levels.  It is not exactly on hope, patience, or prayer, but I heard it on the way home and just had to post it tonight!  I called it my theme song last fall and I guess it still is!  (you'll see this week that Natalie Grant's music gives me so much encouragement)