James MacDonald

I really enjoy my e-mails from the James MacDonald crew. Today it was labeled, "Get on the Hope Train." The website is http://www.walkintheword.com/. In the world, we are told to never give up hope. In our trials, we are told there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will use my infertility issue as an example, just because I am familiar with it.

1. I am often told stories about other women who struggled with infertility and became pregnant. The story is told in order that I might have hope that I might to become pregnant one day also just as this or that person did after a long wait.
2. I have been told to have faith, which is in essence saying have hope. I hate to say it, but my infertility has no reflection upon my faith. It is only by faith that I am able to hold onto my faith in Christ despite not getting what I want. Having faith does not equal God caving in if it is not in His will for me to ever have a child.
3. Many people say, "Look at Sarah, Elizabeth or one of the other women who had babies in their old age." Let me tell you, that is not encouraging and I am not any of those women in the Bible and just because they eventually got pregnant doesn't mean I will.

I will not go further, as I do not mean to offend anyone. Basically, the world says to have faith that one day I may get what I want. What God says is to have faith in Him despite not getting what I want when I want it. Having hope in and for my desires leads to despair and sadness. Having faith in Him leads to contentment and godliness. I prefer the latter.