O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequences of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
She grieved. Her physician had confirmed her worst fears. She would not be able to have the child she so desperately wanted. She loved her husband. They both wanted children. But she was unable to get pregnant. An earlier life of disregard for God’s moral injunctions had resulted in multiple lovers, one of whom had given her an infection. It was treated and she was no longer infected, but the damage was done. She was infertile.
We pray that God hears our prayers. But the prayer goes to acknowledge that we are suffering the just consequences of what we have done. Is there a person-sized hold in your life where a thoughtless word or deed has ruptured relationships beyond repair? My friend had a child-sized hole in her life which would never be filled by her own child. We all have the hole, that brokenness, that something which is the just consequence of our sin, of my sin, and of your sin, your own, personal sin. Our Lord heard the prayers of my friend. There were many joys, abundant forgiveness, and a beautiful marriage to a loving husband which God gave her. But God is not done giving her mercy. He has said he dries every tear. I cannot know just what Jesus will do; but having helplessly watched her shed her tears for a child whom she could never hold, I eagerly look forward to what Jesus has in mind for her. It will be good.