It’s Prayer Vigil Friday! 06/10/11

I’m a day late getting this posted and I am so sorry.

The past week was excruciating for some in the world of infertility. A  friend who goes by the name MaternalTurtle found out that her baby didn’t have a heartbeat at 15 weeks. They induced delivery, and she lost her baby. Another online friend, LeLeIsMe, was 20 weeks pregnant with twins. Her body began showing signs of delivery. They were unable to stop it. She lost her babies. This is the second set of twins she has lost at this same point of her pregnancy. The one and only question they are asking right now is WHY? Why does this have to happen? We cannot provide answers, but we can provide support. We can shed tears for their little ones who were loved beyond belief during their precious existence. We can pray for healing for their broken hearts, we can pray for comfort for their heavy shoulders, and we can pray for strength for the steps that lay ahead of them. Please pray for these women and for all of those who are grieving the loss of a loved one today.

Jesus had extraordinary compassion. He felt sadness and he wept. That deep compassion and sadness extends to us when we mourn our own losses and face our own struggles. It took me a long time to realize that I will never be sad and all alone because Jesus loves me so much that he’s sad for me when I’m sad – he mourns my infertility along with me the days I just can’t keep my chin up. It’s a wonderful feeling to think that perhaps he is sitting right alongside me, whispering to me, “I’m so sorry sweet girl. I’m so sorry you’re sad. But there is a plan. There is hope.”

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ~Matthew 5:4…There must be a time of mourning, there will be a time of anger, but comfort will come.

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.~ John 16:33

Please offer up a prayer of thanks for Lily. Last week we prayed that her iodine levels would be low enough for the go head with her next IVF. Praise God, her levels had dropped to normal and all tests showed very good results. Please pray for Lily and for all women who are going through the IVF process. Keep their bodies healthy and responding well to the drugs. Pray that they have all of the support and love they need at home and from family and friends.

Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~ Romans 8:38-39

Please offer up another prayer of thanks for Jay. After deciding that this would be their last IVF attempt, her appointment following a most miserable two week wait verified that her beta levels were high enough to confirm pregnancy. I cried tears of joy when I saw her twitter post. Please pray that her body remains strong!

Tell the heavens and earth to celebrate and sing! Command every mountain to join in song! ~Isaiah 49:13

I realized that one of the issues facing  many infertile couples has been missing from these prayer requests. That issue is male infertility. Infertility is not gender biased. It doesn’t care if you’re a man or a woman. Infertility falls on the couple, not just the individual.  For me personally, because it is my body that is the infertile half of my marriage, I have always tended to concentrate on the women who are unable to conceive. But I would like to take a moment and pray for the men who are suffering from infertility as well. Pray that they have strong, supportive women in their lives who love them and who are there to cheer them on through their own treatments.

Trust the Lord with all your heart, and don’t depend on your own understanding.  Remember the Lord in all you do, and he will give you success. ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Please pray for those who are about to begin or who are smack in the middle of their two week wait. Pray that we not lose our heads, nor our hearts, and that we continue to find the strength and courage to make it through every obsessive moment of our roller coaster two weeks.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~Philippians 4:6

All you who put your hope in the Lord be strong and brave. ~ Psalm 31:24

Put some time aside today, even if it’s a few minutes or 20 minutes. Close the door, close your eyes, dim the lights, light a candle, whatever you need to do to focus and spend some prayerful time with God. Pray for women you know, pray for women you don’t know. Then take some time and pray for yourself. Spend some time reflecting over the past week, over any frustrations you’ve had, whatever you’ve been putting off talking over with God. Get angry if you need to. Cry if you need to. Smile and give thanks if you need to!

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16

This scripture truly is what Prayer Vigil Friday is all about:

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” ~Matthew 18:19-20

Let’s join in one big prayer all day today!