Yet I will Rejoice in the Lord!

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Habakkuk 3:17-19

Infertility is a difficult pain. Unlike the grief that follows death, with infertility there is only a shadow in which to grieve. Infertility suffers the grief of a life that could be rather than a life that was. I was infertile before God blessed me with three amazing children. And although my “answered prayers” are approaching their college years I still feel the swelling of a lump in my throat and my eyes fill with tears when I watch other women walk this path.

I found loads of comfort in God’s Word during my infertile days. But these verses in Habakkuk challenged me the most. I changed them to fit my situation. My own version went something like this: Though my body refuses to conceive and there is no baby in nine months, though my ovulation prediction kit fails, and I miss the timing this month too, though the familiar cramps consume me, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.

After experiencing infertility I realized that most of us deal with a kind of infertility in our prayer lives. Many times we petition God earnestly only to find ourselves living month by month in the shadow of His promises. If that is how you feel today, do what I did with Habakkuk. Revise these verses to reflect whatever it is that you are going through.

Only after you rewrite verses 17 and 18 will you be able to experience verse 19: “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:19 will be true for you only if you are able to absorb verses 17-18 in your heart. God’s supernatural strength follows your willingness to trust His goodness no matter the circumstances. Don’t let infertile prayers keep you from dancing on the heights of God’s love.

Dear God, I want You to be my strength and enable me to go on the heights. Help me to be joyful in You no matter how tough the situation. Always show me Your love, Your power, and Your hope. In Jesus’ name, amen.