FROM BARRENNESS TO FRUITFULNESS

Dearly Beloved, FROM BARRENNESS TO FRUITFULNESS “I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:1-3 NKJV). Scientifically, the average age of a woman having her last period (or menstrual circle) is 50. This is call menopause. However, some women may have their last period in their forties, and some may have it later in their fifties. A woman who has reached her menopause has little or no chances of getting pregnant. In spite of this scientific fact, recently two women in their sixties (in different locations in Nigeria) gave birth to sets of twins after thirty years of marriage! Both of them were in the news, and people marveled at the miracles that occurred in their lives. Honestly, I am lifted up by their stories. Probably, these women and those that know them might have lost hope of child bearing. However, against all odds, God surprised them. For somebody who is familiar with stories of the Holy Bible, such stories of childbirth at old age were not new. God has been defying nature to surprise some people in giving them children in their old age when all hope of childbearing was lost. The cases of Sarah and Elizabeth were good examples. Both of them with their husbands had lost hope of having biological children, but God turned their barrenness to fruitfulness. Barrenness does not have to do only with child bearing. Other synonyms of the word, barrenness, are infertility, sterility, unfruitfulness, unproductiveness, emptiness, desolateness, bleakness, and the likes. One may be barren academically, financially, professionally, materially, socially, psychologically, politically, and, worse of it all, spiritually. Because of the circumstances surrounding these states of barrenness, one may have lost hope or have little hope of productivity. However, no matter the situation, God can surprisingly against all odds turn any state of barrenness to fruitfulness. Like the writer of Psalm 40:1-3, if you also can patiently wait for the Lord, He will incline to you and hear your cry. He will turn your barrenness of any kind to fruitfulness. He will set your feet upon a rock and establish your steps. He will put a new song in your mouth. Many will indeed see it and fear, and they will trust in the Lord. From barrenness to fruitfulness! In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray for the grace to patiently wait for the Lord as He turns your barrenness to fruitfulness.