Healing from Infertility with Women from the Bible
By Mercedes Shirts
The dull aching of the heart, the yearning to fill a cavernous void, the tremendous sorrow caused by infertility is hard to comprehend. It often leaves women feeling wounded, isolated, confused, and angry.
In my own journey with these emotions, on days when the darkness of infertility seems impenetrable, I feel God tugging at my heart. He brings me back to the light. He speaks truth and hope through his sacred words. Diving into scripture and God’s miraculous healing of infertile women in the Bible unveils His infinite love, healing, and mercy.
Healing of Biblical Women
The Lord will Remember You
During one particularly dark morning, sitting with my Bible, God spoke truth and healing back into my heart. I closed my eyes and let my Bible fall open and was reminded that God will remember me, He will remember you, just as He remembered Hannah in her infertility.
The story of Elkanah and Hannah is a beautiful reminder that God will remember us in our struggles. In Samuel 1:9-19, Hannah implored the Lord to bless her with a child, promising that she would “give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” The Lord remembered Hannah in her infertility, blessing her with Samuel.
The profound words “and the Lord remembered her” (Samuel 1:19) are a healing reminder that even in our doubts and insecurities about the Lord, He remembers us, carries us through hardships, and will bless our lives abundantly. He understands the struggle with infertility and our desire to be filled with life. Though the Lord’s timing is unknown, the story of Hannah’s conception of Samuel reminds us that He will remember us. He will heal us emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
“Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?”
Abraham and Sarah’s journey through infertility highlights the importance of radical trust in the Lord’s plan. Constantly throughout scripture, Abraham puts his faith in the Lord and honors His requests.
When Sarah learns that she and Abraham will bear a child in their late age, Sarah laughed. God then gently reminds Abraham “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘will I really bear a child, old as I am?’ Is anything too marvelous for the Lord to do?” (Genesis 18:13-14). Sarah was slow to believe that God would love her enough to send her the marvelous gift of a child.
Though we may be inclined to doubt God’s plan for our lives, He calls us to radically trust him. His faithfulness is enduring, and His plan is marvelous. Sarah was healed from infertility in her old age and blessed with a child, Isaac. God, too, can work such a miracle in our lives.
God hears our prayers
The remarkable conception of Samson by Manoah and his wife affirms that the Lord works wonders and hears our prayers. The Lord sent an angel to Manoah’s wife to tell her that she would bear a son, Samson. In Manoah’s disbelief, he prays to the Lord that God might send the angel again. “God heard the prayer of Manoah” and sent the angel once more (Judges 13:9).
Manoah and his wife’s disbelief and humility in the healing of their infertility beautifully encourages us to remember that the Lord does hear our prayers. The story of Samson’s conception can revive our faith that God is working all things out for our good. He is our creator, our supplier, our master, our healer, and our provider. He will always hear our prayers.
Standing in Solidarity
A sense of solidarity comes from reading these scripture passages about women who struggled with infertility. These stories are a reminder of the Lord’s miraculous work in women’s lives. The Lord is a healer. He has a marvelous plan for our lives. If we trust in his word, He will remember us. He will paint a beautiful tapestry of our lives in ways we could never fathom.
