Theres been a lot of huge decision making going on in the Carrell house this week. Without going into too much detail, let me tell you a little bit of our story leading up to this point. My husband Hunter and I have been trying to have a baby for almost 3 years now. After seeing a fertility specialist and having all the necessary testing done we were told that the only way we could get pregnant was through in vitro fertilization. We also discovered that IVF would cost roughly $20,000 here in the US and that insurance would not cover any of the costs. The circumstances were overwhelming and we ultimately made the decision to hold off on the procedure and maybe try other treatments for the next year. Its now been a year and half since that first appointment and ,sadly, still no baby. We sat down this weekend and talked about our goals and dreams for the future as well as our desire for a child, which is when the idea of IVF was put back on the table. A serious decision had to be made both financially and spiritually on whether or not we would seek out this treatment. The question “ Are we making the right decision?” has been in my mind constantly since then which led me to look at what the Bible says about decision making while seeking Gods will.
As Christians we should always be seeking God’s will over our own , but what if His will for us is that we gain the wisdom and insight to make our own decisions through His word, and to have the faith and confidence to know God will be there guiding us regardless of the path we choose? God wants us to learn how to choose well but how do we do that? I would love if there was a chapter in the Bible titled ”5 Steps To Determine If God Is Calling You To Do IVF” or even “ How To Know God’s Will For Your Life”. While we won’t find those exact titles, there are some pretty important statements that can still help give us clarity.
What I took from these scriptures is that when facing a difficult decision, before asking God what His will is for my life, I should begin by asking for wisdom. This wisdom can come from not only God’s Word, but through His spirit, divine intervention, and even His people. Therefore ,when we are reading God’s word and keeping a close relationship with Him, paying attention to the Holy Spirits promptings and leadings, recognizing how God works in our circumstances, and staying in fellowship with other Christians, we ensure good decision making habits. As Christians, theres no need to live our lives in fear of making the wrong decisions. We have Gods love to thank for that. Even if we walk through the wrong door, as long as we do so with the right heart and a close relationship with God, His Will will always be done. I’m reminded that God’s Will for my life is so much more than which fertility treatments to try, where I should seek treatment or when and if I have a baby. God’s will for my life is that I abide in Christ, walk faithfully in the power of the Holy Spirit and have a deep and loving relationship with Him. Revelation 3:8 tells us that nothing can stand in the way of that.
2 Comments
Rhonda
1/25/2017 07:08:24 pm
Beautifully expressed, Rachel. I understand so clearly what you are saying. God delights simply in our presence with Him and in our seeking of His will. As we look back at times in our lives we can see that He has always been as close as we have allowed Him to be.
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Robin
1/26/2017 05:30:41 am
This was so beautiful & absolutely what I needed as well!
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Writer:Aften - mama, worker, DIYer, and lover of Jesus. Archives
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