We are excited because we believe that children are a blessing from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). Yes, they require you to have much more responsibility, much more energy, much more patience, and plenty more self-denial. The outcome though is more than worth the effort. Children are a joy. In fact, you don’t really understand the joy of giving, sacrifice, and love until you have a child, or two, or three. There is really nothing that comes close to sharing special moments with your little ones like praying together, playing together, birthdays, family worship, helping your kids see, embrace, and then follow Jesus! I cherish every single one of these splendid gifts from God! I simply will never tire of hearing “I love you, Daddy” or getting a big Goodnight hug!

What most of you may not know is that Summer and I have wanted another child for some time now. Haddon will be 6 years old by the time that our next child is born. We had planned for a much smaller age difference. God’s delay in sending this next bundle of joy proved to be a time of teaching and stretching for us. We never shared with others that we would really welcome another baby so it made for awkward moments when family or friends would jokingly ask when we were going to have another. Somewhere inside I would feel helpless and yet hopeful. Helpless because I knew our circumstance. Hopeful because I knew God is ultimately in control. It was in those times that God stretched us and reminded us of some of life’s greatest lessons.

1. God is Sovereign. You can’t read the OT without realizing that God opens and closes the womb for His greater purposes and glory. His sovereignty extends to both the male and female. In other words, the “closing” and “opening” of the womb could just as easily be a matter involving the husband as it involves the wife. Yes, we wanted a child. But no, we were not pregnant. With our first two children, we were expecting very soon after planning. This time was very different. This time we really began to understand that God oversees all of His creation. Conception is not merely a matter of natural operations! Conception is a miracle wrought by the hand of Almighty God according to His wise, sovereign timing.
2. God is Good. Sometimes our desires, even if they are really good desires, may not be the best plans for our good and God’s glory. How is one to know this? You simply have to trust in the wisdom, love, and goodness of your heavenly Father. When He says, “Wait,” it must be good for you. When he says, “No,” it must be good for you. For some reason that we cannot see today, it will be better for our family if our third child is much younger than Talitha and Haddon.

So what if Summer and I would not have been able to get pregnant again, ever? Believe me, we discussed this possibility as well. I’d like to share some thoughts tomorrow on that very issue. How does the sovereignty and goodness of God apply to couples who long to have children but are never able to conceive?