For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
Have you every been faced with a decision and you had no idea what to do? Did you wonder if there really was a right or wrong decision? If you asked me 20 years ago how I made my decisions, I’d say “Pray and flip a coin 3 times and go with 2 out of 3.” But as I grew in my faith walk and relationship with the Lord, I realized my decisions warranted a lot more than a flip of a coin. God has plans for my life and He has plans for yours too.
About 6 years ago, I was faced with a very important decision. My husband and I “thought” we were done having children. So after three children, we gave away all our baby stuff and we both continued working (I worked from home). When we found out we were pregnant with our 4th, we both were SHOCKED. Of course we were grateful, but our hearts were not in the right place. You see, God had a plan for us, but our eyes and hearts were set on a different plan.
When it came time for the ultrasound we were so excited to see our little baby. But to our surprise they could not find parts of our baby’s heart. “It must be a mistake” we thought. I went back for a second ultrasound and they still could not find parts of our little baby’s heart. I remember sitting in my car bawling, just bawling. I tried to call my husband and I could barely get in a word. All I could do was cry. “We broke our baby’s heart!” I said as I cried. My heart was so sad I because we didn’t accept the blessing God gave to us.
Terminating the pregnancy was not an option for us. We prayed for healing and we sent out prayer requests. We were so humbled and so broken. We were down on our knees asking God to heal our baby’s heart. Repair it. “You created the heaven’s and the earth Lord, please create a new heart for our baby.”
Our next visit was to the heart specialist. I was so scared, so nervous, so confused. I knew God could heal our baby if he wanted to, but I also knew that he may not be healed. God always answers prayers, just sometimes the answer is no.
So we waited for the results. Every minute felt like an eternity. When the doctor came in he told us the baby’s heart was fine. Breathe again. Amazingly all the parts of the heart were there! We only had to do a test at birth and take it from there.
So what was my major decision? My husband and I prayed together and in agreement in prayer we both felt the Lord put on our hearts to be open to receive as many children as He desires to gives us. That is a major decision. But after we almost lost our fourth baby, we realized that through that trial, God revealed to us His plan. Now we have six blessings (and counting) running around our home and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
What if? What if? What if we decided three children was enough? I would probably still be working from home. I would probably have a hobby or something…right? Oh, I may have a clean house. I may have Food Channel marathons. I would be baking, eating food while it was still hot, maybe playing soccer mom…
…but even as I write what could have been, tears well up in my eyes. I am filled with an emptiness and deep sadness. If we stopped at three, I wouldn’t have my energetic 3 year old who takes care of me when I am not feeling well. Who makes me laugh with his silly Batman impressions. I would not be able to rock my baby girl to sleep, hold her close to me, and listen to her sweet giggles. As busy and chaotic as my life is, I am so blessed to walk down the road less traveled with my gluten-free, homeschooling, oily family of eight. I know God has a plan for my life, and it is my desire that I live it for HIM.
God has plans for your life. When you are faced with a major decision don’t just flip a coin. Take time to bend a knee and pray. Be open to what God is showing you. He has plans for your life. He has plans for you to prosper and plans to give you hope! Believe He can use YOU to do amazing things! Don’t be afraid to take the road less traveled.
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What major decision have you had to make? Where would you be if you had gone the other road?
joyfullinspirations.com 
You and that beautiful heart of yours.
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Wow what a wake up call for us all!! We never know what to do about such decisions. LIKE YOU WE JUST TRUST IN THE LORD. LET GO AND LET GOD. Thanks for sharing with everyone. Your sharing is saving others in similar situations. Sometimes things work out in prayer and sometimes not. It depends on your intensity of prayer power and your dependency on God. Godbless you and your beautiful family always.
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Thank you for your kind words, Judith! I appreciate your encouragement. It can be challenging sometimes to share life experiences. But the way I see it, if I can encourage or inspire even one person, it is worth it for me. I just want to be HIS hands and HIS feet. Thanks for sharing my experience with others. Blessings.
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Reblogged this on judithsingh and commented:
Wow what an inspirational experience and Im glad you shared it. Many parents keep going through dilemmas like yours and have no idea where to get inspired and with what courage. G
Godbless you both
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Thank you for sharing such a truly beautiful post x
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Awwww…thank you so much for your kind words. Blessings.
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Such a beautiful, wholly inspirational story! Thank you for sharing! My path with Christ was also full of nervousness and fears … it’s like coming to the edge of a cliff, seeing no bridge to cross to the other said, and then God says “Go on: There actually IS a bridge there. Trust me.”
Close my eyes … deep breath … hold scripture in my heart … take that first step. And yeah: God doesn’t let you fall.
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That is a beautiful description of walking in faith! I love it. My heart was beating fast as you described coming to the edge of a cliff and going on…whew! That is exactly what it feels like!!! It is so scary but yet so amazing how God comes through. I love it. Thank you for your encouragement as we continue “counting” our blessings!!! Blessings to you.
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Thanks for sharing such a wonderful story. I love hearing how God opens up our hearts to new things and I agree that stepping out in faith, embracing having as many kids as God sends, is so scary at times and yet so exciting and unmeasurably rewarding- at least thats how it feels to me 😉
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Amen! YES! It always feels so good to walk in faith when things get scary. It is always so comforting to know there are others who embrace the calling to be open to having as many kids as God desires. It is definitely a calling, a conviction, a daily walk in faith. But ever since that day we agreed in prayer this was our commitment, I have felt so filled like I am walking in the will of God. It is such a wonderful feeling. I don’t wander around wondering if this is where I am suppose to be. I KNOW the is where God wants me to be and that is so rewarding. Blessings to you.
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Wonderfull story!! It was very encouraging and hope giving words!!You must be really happy with your 6 blessings!! Wish i could also have more children!
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It is always an adventure but I love it. How many children do you have? Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for your encouragement.
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2 girls, 2 and 5 years old ! Unfortunately due to health problems for the next 1-2 years i can’t be pregnant and i am allready 33 years old
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Wow! What a beautiful blessing to have two girls close in age. They will be best friends. I had my first child when I was 29 and had my 6th at 39 and turned 40 shortly after. So any more from this point forward will be in my 40s. So you still have some good years to have more children. Be blessed and be at peace, my friend, and know that if God desire you to have more children, HE will provide a way. Don’t worry about your age, you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. All things are possible with HIM.
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Thank you very much !!Very true all you say!!Firstly, we all shall have our health and then with hope all will find our way!!! I admire though your courage..6 allready and you want 7th!
Bravo!!
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I pray for health and wellness for you. I had to go through a period like that. I had surgery after my 5th and the doctors told me that I had to avoid pregnancy in order not to reverse the effects of the surgery. It was so hard but I knew God would do what needed to be done. After all, it is HIS plan not mine. So I was at peace with what God was doing through that period. Enjoy your two blessings! What a joy!
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Thank you very much, you are very kind!
I don’t know what is His plan for me, but untill now wasn’t very …
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What a beautiful story of the Lord working in your lives! So glad that your baby boy was ok! What a blessing to have six children. Thank you for the encouraging words. Sometimes the path God takes us on is not what we set out to do, but His ways are higher than our ways. I needed to remember that today. Blessings to you!
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I think if God had showed me 10 years ago that I would have six or more children I would have run the other direction (at first anyway). But He did it in bite size pieces with a few trials along the way. But trials always make me stronger. Thank you for your encouragement. God’s ways aren’t always our ways…indeed…but His ways are always better than we could ever have imagined. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you!
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Isn’t it amazing how God works with us where we are? I got pregnant again when our first was just 10 months old. We were shocked because it had taken two years to get prenant the first time. Sadly, I ended up miscarrying. And have never been pregnant since then. But because of that, we adopted our beautiful second daughter just over three years ago and are talking about adopting again. I truly believe that had we had that second baby so soon after the first, we would have stopped at two children. So far, that is all we have anyway, but it is through the miracle of adoption. And we are still wanting to grow our family through adoption. God’s plans are always best.
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God is so awesome. What a beautiful testimony of God’s love and faithfulness! He can make good even out of the hard and sad times. You kept your heart open to God’s plan and He has blessed you abundantly. Thank you for sharing your testimony. Enjoy your two beautiful blessings!
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