The Breakthrough Happens at the Altar
Every year as Mother’s Day approaches, I find myself undone by just how good and faithful God has been to me. It is not lost on me that I am now standing in a reality full of answered prayers.
Motherhood didn’t come easily for me – I wish it did, but it didn’t. All three of my children are walking miracles. It wasn’t long ago that I was sitting at my kitchen table crying out to God around Mother’s Day asking him to answer my cry for a baby.
As I was praying what the Lord would have me share this week, I felt like I needed to encourage the one who longs to become a mama, the woman believing for her miracle baby. If that’s you, I want to remind you that God sees you in this moment and he’s with you in your longing and heartache – just like he saw me that one Mother’s Day.
There’s a story found in 1 Samuel 1-2 (I encourage you to read the whole story for yourself when you have time) about a barren woman named Hannah. While we don’t know how long she struggled to get pregnant, the Bible says that she went “year after year” without being able to conceive a child. Some theologians suggest she went 19 years not able to get pregnant. My heart ached when I read that.
In the midst of Hannah’s grief, she decided to go to the tabernacle to pray. The Bible says she was in “deep anguish” and “cried bitterly” to the Lord asking that he would grant her a baby. Her prayer meeting must have gotten a little rowdy because Eli, the priest of the Tabernacle, mistakenly thought she was drunk. At the end of the prayer meeting, Hannah left in peace and her grief left her. And shortly after, she became miraculously pregnant!
There is so much to share about this story, but one thing you need to know is that the breakthrough didn’t happen when Hannah was holding that sweet baby boy in her arms, it happened in the prayer meeting, when she poured out her heart out before the Lord at the altar.
So often, it’s when we come to the end of ourselves, that the Lord meets us. It’s the real and authentic moments that we find him.
Maybe you’ve been experiencing miscarriage after miscarriage. Can I encourage you to meet Jesus at the altar of your life?
Maybe you’ve been told you’re barren and there’s no chance you’ll be able to get pregnant. Can I encourage you to meet Jesus at the altar of your life?
Maybe you’ve been faithfully, patiently waiting on the Lord for a miracle but as time passes by, you feel like the Lord has forgotten you. Can I encourage you to meet Jesus at the altar of your life?
Whatever your circumstance, whatever you’re going through, I want to encourage you that Jesus is always the answer and I believe he wants to meet with you in this moment. Lean in, cry out to him, and pour your heart out before him.
As my life has unfolded over the years, looking back, it always looks different than I thought it would. But, God’s plan is always better and his way is full of goodness. My friend, he sees you, he’s with you.
Your miracle is on the way…