From Barrenness to Joy, and Beyond

I do so appreciate the thoughtfulness of the Lord when he sends a timely little blessing.

Just in time for Mother’s Day, the verses in my daily reading of the Psalms included this:

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. – Psalm 113:9

If I were the Psalmist, I would have added an exclamation point to the end of that one, just because, well – praise the Lord!

As a wife and mother, I have certainly endured some barren, desert-dry times in my life, during which my physical and emotional resources were spent, and my spiritual joy was stagnant.

In that verse, God promised to provide the childless woman a household to keep and children to tend– but more than that, he promised her the joy needed to buoy her through each day, as she poured herself out in service of her family.

Though I had no problems conceiving children, I certainly needed that joy.

God’s promises are always so full and well-rounded, aren’t they? He never wants to give us just a bit, or help us just a little. He wants to bless us abundantly.

Do you see that? He desires to supply mothers not just with children and a household (the blessing Jewish women desired), but with joy.

And on top of that, he wants to provide his children not just with joy, but with overflowing joy.

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. – John 16:24

He desires that we have not just a good life, but an abundant life.

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10

He wants to not just sprinkle blessings upon us, but to pour them out like heavy rain on a parched land.

I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. – Ezekiel 34:26

Our dear Father has limitless resources. If we walk with him, and we ask him to share those resources, he promises to lavish them upon us.

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When have you experienced the abundant blessings of God? Your testimony would be such an encouragement! I look forward to hearing from you.