To Be Fruitful

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 54:1-3

Today's Treasure:

“ ‘Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 54:1).

Without a doubt, some of the unhappiest men and women I've ever known have been those who wanted children and were unable to have them. For many women, the dream of having children began when they were children themselves, mothering any baby doll they could find. The disappointment of infertility after so much anticipation is heart-wrenching, to say the least.

My friends who have suffered this blow have asked themselves questions like, "Why me?" "Why my husband?" "What did I do to deserve this?" "Is this my punishment for sex before marriage?" "Is this my punishment for having an abortion?" "Would I have been such a terrible parent?" "Why do abusive parents have children? I would never abuse a child!" The questions go on and on.

I've witnessed marriages destroyed by the inability to have children. I've also seen some women suffer shame for not really desiring to have children. I want to make several points about fruitfulness and barrenness:

First, barrenness does not imply sinfulness. Luke 1:5-7 offers biblical proof. Elizabeth was barren not because of sin but because God had something special for her.

Hearts entirely surrendered to God can ordinarily be trusted. If a man or woman's heart belongs entirely to God and they do not long to be married or have children, they are probably called to singleness or childlessness to pursue other purposes for God. Psalm 37:4 could be translated to support this statement. The psalm promises that if we delight ourselves in the Lord He will give us the desires of our hearts.

Hearts not surrendered to God can seldom be trusted. Until we surrender our hopes and dreams to Christ, we really have very little way of knowing what would fulfill us. We've all known people who claimed they'd be "happy" if only...they were married, had children, had a big house, or the right job. Most people who are banking on circumstantial contentment find themselves in emotional bankruptcy sooner or later. Unhappy people are not made happy by marriage or children. An unhappy person usually needs a change of heart more than a change of circumstances. I know this from experience.

God created every life to be fruitful and multiply, but this God-given dream represents more than physical offspring. Let's meditate on this for a moment. Why do most people want to have children?

I believe our dreams to have babies represent a desire to have fruitful lives, to invest ourselves in something that matters. Something that makes a difference. I don't believe God allows surrendered hearts to continue to long for things He will not ultimately grant in one way or another. Our disappointment with God is often the result of our small thinking. Let's consider a biblical basis for this belief system.

Isaiah 54:1 counsels the barren woman to sing, "because more are the children of the desolate woman / than of her who has a husband." Let me give you a few examples. My dear friend Johnnie Haines has two fine sons who are her pride and joy. She always longed for but never had a daughter. One day she said to me, "My boys are virtually grown, and I love them so much, but I still wonder from time to time why God never gave me the daughter I longed for, too." But you see, He did! For ten years she led the women's ministry at a large church in Houston. She mothered numerous young women. The women under her direction are now mature believers who are serving God effectively in their homes, workplaces, and churches.

Dr. Rhonda Kelley is another friend and author of Life Lessons from Women in the Bible. God never gave the Kelleys physical offspring, but He has given them more spiritual offspring than any parents I know! Her husband is a seminary president, and she teaches and mentors on the campus. Only heaven will boast the number of offspring Chuck and Rhonda really have. Their loss was glory's gain. I believe both of them would testify that God ultimately did not restrict them from childbearing. Rather, He loosened the restrictions and made them enlarge their tents!

The potential for spiritual offspring in the lives of those physically barren is virtually limitless. If He restricts you from physical offspring, He desires to empower you to bear spiritual offspring. God created you to bear much fruit.

If we live long enough, each of us will be barren. Are we to assume our fruitfulness has ended? Do we exist until death on memories and large doses of fiber? Why, then, does barrenness come to all women around fifty years of age? Were we meant to sit around for the next thirty or forty years and twiddle our arthritic thumbs? God is far too practical for that!

Older women "can train younger women to love their husbands and children" (Titus 2:4). When older women pour their lives into younger women and their children, they are birthing spiritual offspring. Older women are a necessity in the body of Christ! Older men have a similar commission (2 Tim. 2:2). I don't see the slightest hint that older people should retire from serving God or witnessing to the lost. Quite to the contrary, they have opportunities that far exceed those of younger men and women. God calls us to be fruitful and multiply until He calls us home.

If God chose for you to have physical children, prepare yourself! They will grow up! Then it's time to enlarge your tent and invest in spiritual children. If God chooses for you never to have physical children, He's calling you to a far bigger family. God purposely placed the dream of fruitful lives in our hearts. Oh, how I love the paradoxical ways our glorious heavenly Father works. Only He can bring gain from loss. Only He can make us more fruitful in barrenness.

One final thought. Undoubtedly one of the reasons I wanted children was to bear offspring who were the physical image of my husband. I wanted little Keith and Keithettes! I didn't want them to look like me. I've always thought Keith was far more beautiful than I. The same is true with our spiritual offspring. Once we fall in love with Christ, we are so taken with His beauty, we want children who look just like Him. That's spiritual parenting in a nutshell: raising spiritual sons and daughters that look just like their Father. What could be more important?

Father, thank You for the desire You've put within my heart to live a fruitful life. I surrender my expectations and desires to You. Conform my will to Yours and let me live it out by Your grace. Find me faithful in discipling spiritual offspring for Your glory. Let me pour out my life to see others live for You. And if You choose for me to have physical offspring, help me to raise children who will be mighty for Your kingdom. I pray these things in the name of Your beloved Son, Jesus. Amen.

Adapted from Breaking Free, by Beth Moore, pages 156-160. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2000. Used by permission.