Learning from Women in the Scriptures

As I mentioned in a previous post, I recently listened to an interview with Sister Beck about motherhood. In a short part of the interview (at about the 32 minute mark) she gives advice to those women who have been unable to have children.
  

Sister Beck recommends that these women read the Old Testament. She said,

"Start with Adam and Eve and go on through Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, Jacob and Rachel. You'll find out that this is an age old problem. The problem of childlessness is not a new problem. And its interesting to me that its such a central scripture story. That its one of the stories that's been preserved so carefully in scripture.

"There's something in that challenge that really draws men and women to the Lord...makes them more humble...I would learn from those people of what the Lord was trying to teach these great patriarchs and great matriarchs about the plan when He gave them a chance to struggle with childlessness. You might find some answers and peace for yourself in that."

I personally have spent many hours reading the scriptures about these great women that have shared this same struggle that I have.

My favorite woman to study is Hannah. 
When my husband and I were hoping and praying to have a child I loved reading Hannah's story and especially looking at Elspeth Young's portrayal of her.

I'm grateful that the Lord gives us opportunities to learn from each other and draw strength from each other. I am grateful for this tender mercy.

As I get to know more and more women that have experienced some type of infertility it is interesting to see how the Lord works so different in each situation. 

Each couple has their own unique experience and each couple has the opportunity to turn to the Lord and become closer to him. 

This month is national adoption month.  I have known many great women and families that have been led to adoption and their families have been greatly blessed because of it. 

Rachel, who has posted on this blog, is dedicating this month to share about her experience in adoption and to answer anyone's questions about the process.  Through their long process she had to rely and trust in the Lord.  I wanted to post a few of her words here.  If you want to read more or ask her questions, check out her blog.

I cannot stop thinking about babies. I am not tormented or depressed (most of the time), but it is just something that weighs heavily on my mind and my heart all day every day. What does God want for our family? Does he want us to adopt a special needs baby through an agency called Spence Chapin? Are we up for the challenge? Does he want us to stick it out with LDS Family Services? Does he want us to try harder for biological children, putting my body through the more intense fertility treatments that I am dreading? Does He care which path we take? I feel these nagging questions all the time, even when I am working on something else. When I’m grading papers, when I’m running on a treadmill…even when I’m sleeping. I can’t help but dream different scenarios of how we will get our baby.

I have never prayed so much in my life. I feel like prayers are inseparably woven into all of my thoughts these days. “What should we do? Please guide us Heavenly Father.” It’s like a refrain that plays in my mind all day long. And every morning and every night, I get on my knees and beg for guidance.

I remember feeling very similar thoughts and feelings.  As I read these words from Rachel and applied it to myself, I couldn't help but think that maybe sometimes we're not waiting on the Lord, the Lord is waiting on us.  He's waiting for us to have that complete reliance on him.  That continual prayer.  He wants us to learn to be that close with him every day, all the time.  Sometimes we have to learn it through hard things, but that's what helps us to learn and grow.