Jackie Hill Perry answered the question, “How do you pray in the midst of infertility?” She emphasized how Hannah prayed to God while she was struggling through it.
Infertility
Jackie Hill Perry joined Beth Moore and answered important questions during the Living Proof Ministries live event in Birmingham, Alabama. One question the audience raised was, “How do you pray in the midst of infertility?” Jackie answered by highlighting that the fact that a person still prayed while going through infertility was already a blessing.
She mentioned, “Infertility is hard. That’s a hard weight to carry. Especially in many Christian communities in which your infertility is blamed on you. That you haven’t prayed enough. That you haven’t fasted enough, that you haven’t believed big enough.” After that, she encouraged those who raised the question by stating that the fact that they still wanted to pray for it meant that they still had faith in God amid troubles.
The Story of Hannah
Furthermore, she explained that one of the good examples in the Bible was written in 1 Samuel. It was all about a woman named Hannah who was dealing with infertility. In verse 6, it was stated that the Lord had closed her womb. Jackie said that through this verse, there was a sense in which conception falls into the sovereign creativity of God.
Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore. (Screenshot). (2024). Q&A with Beth Moore and Jackie Hill Perry. Retrieved April 25, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ4qPvSwRyo
She elaborated, “He decides when and when not to open the womb. The discouraging part is that when we put the burden of barrenness on the Lord. That actually enforces some of the discouragement some of you may feel.”
How Hannah Prayed
Moreover, she reminded the people of what the word “Lord” truly means in Exodus 33. It was written that the Lord was a gracious and compassionate God who was slow to anger and had steadfast love. This would mean that even if people experienced difficult circumstances, they could trust in a God who was good, abounding, steadfast, and faithful. This would not eliminate the grief, but it could cultivate hope that would lead people not to hate God despite their difficulties.
Additionally, she shared how Hannah prayed in the Bible. She said, “Oh, Lord of hosts, look upon the affliction of your servant.” From this statement, Hannah identified God as sovereign over all things. At the same time, she also called herself a servant. This would mean that she was willing to submit to God even in pain and suffering.
Watch the full video here.
Reference | Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore
Header Image: Living Proof Ministries with Beth Moore. (Screenshot). (2024). Q&A with Beth Moore and Jackie Hill Perry. Retrieved April 25, 2024: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ4qPvSwRyo