Support from bible for friend?

[clairysage]

Hello all,

I hope you don't mind me visiting - I'm not currently trying to conceive. I have a very good friend who is trying unsuccessfully to have a 2nd child. She's feeling quite down about as it seems like all her other friends are pregnant

Could anyone suggest a bible passage that I could share with her that might help her? I thought maybe one of you might have a favourite passage that you go back to when you're having bad times. Or maybe just some words of wisdom that may not necessarily be from the bible?

Thanks so much, I just really want to be supportive here, and as I've not been through these problems myself I just want to get some ideas from people who have as to what I can say that will help.

Thanks,

Clairy

 

[jazzbird]

Hi Clairy. What a great friend you are! I know from experience how uplifting it can be to have this kind of encouragement and support from a friend. It can be so important.

My favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 

[clairysage]

Thanks very much jazzbird - that's just the thing I was looking for (if only I'd known where to look!) - I will pass it on to my friend and hope it gives her a little hope and peace.

 

[ilovespring]

Hi Clairy there are also heaps of verses particular in Genesis to do with barren women and them then conceiving, however I am not sure if she will find comfort in those or not. Sometimes these kind of "stories" are not what I want to hear....but then other times I find these encouraging too. They are the stories of Rachel, Rebekah, Sarah etc.

Even just a friend to talk to who is interested in what you are going through is very helpful in these times.

 

[Assisi]

The start of the first book of Samuel is beautiful. It tells of Hannah's despair at not conceiving for a long time, and then tells how she dedicated her future child to God, and conceived.

 

[ulais0205]

I found Psalm 113 a comfort:

Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.
The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.

I had to preach on this passage as part of a series of 'Praise the Lord' Psalms. When I first came to the passage I was like 'praise the Lord? I don't feel much like praising the Lord. What am I going to talk about?' As I read the Psalm, which could have been given to any one of the other preachers to preach on, I started to spontaneously praise the Lord. The reason? Verse 9. Even if God does not enable my dream to come true, I know he knows of my pain. I am not alone.

There are a couple of good books I have come across too. I'm not sure I can post them here so pm me if you are interested.

Also, I have found singing Blessed Be your name by Matt Redman to be of help.