2020 Advent Devotions
Friday, December 18 - Debra Bender
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”
Good news of great joy took on a new meaning for our family during 2020. My niece struggled with getting pregnant for several years. She and her husband finally resorted to IVF to conceive. The first two attempts were unsuccessful, and the miscarriages were gut wrenching for her and for all of those who knew how much she longed to be a mother. The experience made her struggle with her faith. We prayed for her and encouraged her along the way, but since pregnancy had come so easy for the rest of our family, we really could not truly understand what she was going through.
Thankfully, in the fall of 2019, we learned her 3rd IVF attempt was successful. We all remained cautiously optimistic that the third time was the charm. Her doctors did everything they could to make sure they gave her the best odds of a successful pregnancy and her little one continued to grow. Ultrasounds showed that she was pregnant with a son. Although she experienced some complications, they could be treated with medicine until she could deliver. However, they decided it would be best for her to deliver early, at 37 weeks. Because my younger brother’s only child was stillborn, we were nervous throughout the waiting process. We could not assume at any point that all would end with joy.
Then Covid 19 entered the picture five weeks before his anticipated arrival. She and her husband had to quarantine prior to delivery so both could be present in the delivery room. Finally, on April 19th, good news of great joy radiated through our family when Bo Douglas was born! Our long-awaited great nephew had arrived. My niece’s dream of motherhood came true in this birth. Our prayers had been answered! In August, we all celebrated together during our big family beach vacation. We got to know him up close, helped feed him and rock him to sleep.
While Bo was not the Savior of the world, we were able to experience the great joy a new life can bring, especially one long awaited, from the desire of a mother’s heart to a blessed birth. Our Savior is there with us through all of our struggles, fears, frustrations, worries and joyful moments of life. Especially this year, we need that reassurance more than ever. It’s when we think we’ve lost everything that we learn to experience good news of great joy in a more profound way.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see and feel your presence, and to lay our worries and fears at your feet. Help us see evidence of your work in our everyday lives and to celebrate every blessing with great joy. Amen.
Jeremiah 29: 11-13 “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”
Good news of great joy took on a new meaning for our family during 2020. My niece struggled with getting pregnant for several years. She and her husband finally resorted to IVF to conceive. The first two attempts were unsuccessful, and the miscarriages were gut wrenching for her and for all of those who knew how much she longed to be a mother. The experience made her struggle with her faith. We prayed for her and encouraged her along the way, but since pregnancy had come so easy for the rest of our family, we really could not truly understand what she was going through.
Thankfully, in the fall of 2019, we learned her 3rd IVF attempt was successful. We all remained cautiously optimistic that the third time was the charm. Her doctors did everything they could to make sure they gave her the best odds of a successful pregnancy and her little one continued to grow. Ultrasounds showed that she was pregnant with a son. Although she experienced some complications, they could be treated with medicine until she could deliver. However, they decided it would be best for her to deliver early, at 37 weeks. Because my younger brother’s only child was stillborn, we were nervous throughout the waiting process. We could not assume at any point that all would end with joy.
Then Covid 19 entered the picture five weeks before his anticipated arrival. She and her husband had to quarantine prior to delivery so both could be present in the delivery room. Finally, on April 19th, good news of great joy radiated through our family when Bo Douglas was born! Our long-awaited great nephew had arrived. My niece’s dream of motherhood came true in this birth. Our prayers had been answered! In August, we all celebrated together during our big family beach vacation. We got to know him up close, helped feed him and rock him to sleep.
While Bo was not the Savior of the world, we were able to experience the great joy a new life can bring, especially one long awaited, from the desire of a mother’s heart to a blessed birth. Our Savior is there with us through all of our struggles, fears, frustrations, worries and joyful moments of life. Especially this year, we need that reassurance more than ever. It’s when we think we’ve lost everything that we learn to experience good news of great joy in a more profound way.
Prayer: Lord, help us to see and feel your presence, and to lay our worries and fears at your feet. Help us see evidence of your work in our everyday lives and to celebrate every blessing with great joy. Amen.