Believe & Declare- Finding hope in infertility: Recent Episodes
Yemisi Olaniyonu
Believe and Declare is a faith based weekly podcast to equip and encourage women struggling with infertility.
Hosted by teacher and speaker Yemisi Olaniyonu, each podcast focuses on biblical truths that help waiting mothers get the right perspective of God’s love and find strength to persevere while maintaining spiritual postures that guarantee victory.
New episode availabe every Sunday morning. Link to connect and download free resources: Instagram- @yemisiolaniyonu
This episode is perfect for anyone who feels stuck in a waiting season or is seeking ways to make the most out of these seemingly stagnant periods. Join us as we learn to embrace waiting not as wasted time, but as a valuable phase of active engagement and growth.
"That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy." Romans 8:24-25 MSG
Welcome to today’s episode of "Trusting God Against the Odds," where we delve into the challenging yet rewarding journey of maintaining faith when the circumstances seem insurmountable. In this episode, we explore how believers can hold onto their trust in God’s plan, even when the path ahead is obscured by trials and uncertainties.
As we navigate through heartfelt discussions on the power of faith during life’s storms, the resilience required to overcome doubts, and the peace that comes from surrendering our deepest fears to God, we invite you to reflect on your own experiences. How have you witnessed God’s hand in your life when the odds were stacked against you? What scriptures have anchored you in times of trial?
Join us as we uncover stories of remarkable faith and divine intervention that demonstrate God's unfailing presence and support, even in the darkest moments. Whether you’re currently facing a giant in your life or you’re supporting someone in their battle, this episode is a testament to the strength that comes from trusting God against all odds.
Keep trusting in the Lord and do what is right in his eyes. Fix your heart on the promises of God, and you will dwell in the land, feasting on his faithfulness. Find your delight and true pleasure in Yahweh, and he will give you what you desire the most. Give God the right to direct your life, and as you trust him along the way, you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly! Psalms 37:3-5 TPT
It is okay to you acknowledge and assess the problem; you shouldn’t live in denial. But don’t stop there; there are a couple of things you can do at such times, and we will be considering one of them today.
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak 2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV
Don’t allow hopelessness and despair get the better of you, arise and speak
We frequently lose sight of God's immeasurable grace in our lives when we are in need. We are so preoccupied with what we lack or the situation we are in that we fail to recognize that God is still mindful of us.
1 Peter 5:7 AMP- Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
You are precious and honored in God's sight. He sees you and is present in that struggle. Don’t allow the enemy to deceive you; God’s love is steadfast and unwavering. He is concerned for men and animals alike.
I urge you to use this method for all of your concerns, fears, worries, and other issues. After acknowledging them, weigh them against God's steadfast love and faithfulness.
Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:5-7 New Living Translation
Faith speaks what it believes.
We have the same Spirit of faith that is described in the Scriptures when it says, “First I believed, then I spoke in faith.” So we also first believe then speak in faith. 2 Corinthians 4:13 TPT
We are in a time where everything that was previously fruitless and barren will be fruitful and overflow with fruits.
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “When the plowman shall overtake the one who gathers the harvest, And the one who treads the grapes [shall overtake] him who sows the seed [for the harvest continues until planting time]; When the mountains will drip sweet wine And all the hills shall melt [that is, everything that was once barren will overflow with streams of blessing]. Amos 9:13 AMP
Imagine the wilderness whooping for joy, the desert’s unbridled happiness with its spring flowers. It will happen! The deserts will come alive with new growth budding and blooming, singing and celebrating with sheer delight. The glory of Lebanon’s cedars and the majesty of Carmel and Sharon will spill over to the deserts. The glory of the Eternal One will be on full display there, and they will revel in the majestic splendor of our God. Isaiah 35:1-2 Voice
Yet at the scent of water [the stump of the tree] will flourish And bring forth sprigs and shoots like a seedling. Job 14:9 AMP
Now it happened after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.” Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the roar of an abundance of rain.” In a little while the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there were heavy showers. And Ahab mounted and rode [his chariot] and went [inland] to [a]Jezreel. 1 kings 18: 1, 41, & 45 Voice
For all the years of your waiting and seeming drought situations, I declare the rain is here and in abundance.
God is actively watching over his word to accomplish it
You may have prayed for days, months, and even years, and you are yet to see his promises fulfilled. Don’t give up hope; the promises are now about to be fulfilled, not in the distant future. No, they are about to happen. The healing, victory, children & all you have been believing are here. Things may still look like they have always been, but don’t be discouraged; the time is now. Continue to hold fast to the hope you acknowledge without wavering, for the One who made the promise is trustworthy.
Jeremiah 1:12 AMPC Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
As we go through life, there are events and circumstances that might make us feel embarrassed and humiliated, for no fault of our own.
I love that this scripture and others like it were recorded for us because it shows it is possible for a reproach of many years to be removed in a day.
Then the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach (derision, ridicule) of Egypt from you.” So the name of that place is called Gilgal (rolling) to this day. Joshua 5:9
There are many promises of God in the Bible that we stand on and believe for/to see the manifestation; with these, we pray them till we see the manifestation. However, when we get a specific word from the Lord in our private devotion, we most often think the season for its fulfillment is at the time we heard the word. As time passes, we try to keep hope alive, but some fall into despair along the way. This is mainly because we expect him to simply bring it to pass without our involvement, so we fail to contend for it.
We were told in advance that hard times will come, and we have no reason to fear or be anxious. God expects us to find our peace in him. He told us these things so that we would be whole and at peace. He encourages us to be filled with joy knowing that He has already obtained victory, and nothing in this world can undo that.
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] John 16:33 AMP
Many times, we find it hard to be joyful because we are so focused on the current unpleasant situation rather than on God, the one who loves and tends to us.
The Lord engages his right hand for his children, and it acts not only victoriously but also thoroughly. It accomplishes completely the purpose for which it is engaged. Be expectant this year; the Lord is poised to show himself strong on your behalf.
The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents and private dwellings of the [uncompromisingly] righteous: the right hand of the Lord does valiantly and achieves strength! Psalm 118:15 AMPC
They did not win the land with their swords. It wasn’t their strength that won them victory. It was Your strength—Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your presence that gave them success, for You loved them. Psalm 44:3 Voice
Perception affects behavior, who do you say Christ is? Many times we perceive things differently from reality.
Exodus 24:17-18 In the sight of the Israelites the appearance of the glory and brilliance of the Lord was like consuming fire on the top of the mountain. Moses entered the midst of the cloud and went up the mountain; and he was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
In times of waiting, there may be temptations to not trust that God will do what He has promised. God is worth waiting for, His loving purpose is for you to live well and to be well.
Don’t imagine, dear friends, that God’s timetable is the same as ours; as the psalm says, for with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. Now the Lord is not slow about enacting His promise—slow is how some people want to characterize it—no, He is not slow but patient and merciful to you, not wanting anyone to be destroyed, but wanting everyone to turn away from following his own path and to turn toward God’s. 2 Peter 3:8-9 Voice
The word is powerful, no doubt, and God says his word will not return to him useless without accomplishing the purpose for which it was sent. What then, is the problem? Jesus higlights the importance of faith in his earthly ministry
Jesus asked the blind men who came to him for healing “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Matthew 9:28-30
Live with hope, live expectantly, and don't lose sight of what is true. As long as we are on this side of eternity, we’ll find ourselves in the midst of impossible circumstances and difficult situations. We need to have the right perspective on our situation.
Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer. Romans 12:12 Voice
[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised. Romans 4:18 AMPC
I know year-end can be daunting and that there will be plenty of voices in the back of your mind telling you to give up. As the year winds down, we tend to focus on the unmet expectations, forget all the goodness we enjoyed, and fall into despair. I want you to refute the lies of the enemy.
The devil will do everything in his power to keep you from inheriting the promises of God. He has always employed deception to get us off track. Contend with the lies that the enemy hurls at you with the truth of God's Word. Rest in the promises of God, knowing that faithful is he who promised. Let them stir you and direct you as you wage good warfare to enforce them.
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:8
That’s right. From this know that I am watching over My word until it is accomplished. Jeremiah 1:12
Abram scoffed at the seemingly impossible circumstance and secretly pondered, “Shall a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?". God is able to fulfill his promise to you. For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. Luke 1: 37
God is fully capable and well-equipped to do what he purposes to do. Abraham and Sarah came to understand that what God promises, He will fulfil. Don’t try to complete what was started in the spirit in the flesh
God is fully capable and well-equipped to do what he purposes to do. Abraham and Sarah came to understand that what God promises, He will fulfil. Don’t try to complete what was started in the spirit in the flesh
God wants you to rest assured knowing He is by your side even during the most trying moments, helping you get through them and providing you with the strength to overcome them.
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 TLB
The devil will do everything in his power to keep you from inheriting the promises of God. He has always employed deception to get us off track. Contend with the lies that the enemy hurls at you with the truth of God's Word. Rest in the promises of God, knowing faithful is he who promised. Let them stir you and direct you as you wage good warfare to enforce them.
Never allow the enemy draw you into a conversation about God's words or instructions with contradictory ones of his own.
This charge and admonition I commit in trust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with prophetic intimations which I formerly received concerning you, so that inspired and aided by them you may wage the good warfare. 1 Timothy 1:18 AMPC
In 2 Kings 4:8–37, the Shunamite woman held fast to her confession of faith, declaring that all was well, and such was the result.
Words either build up or tear them down. It’s as simple as that.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words. Proverbs 18:21 AMPC
Many times we fear God has abandoned us or that he is not paying active attention to us, so we attempt to rouse Him to action. We see from scripture that this is not the case.
It is the Lord Who goes before you; He will [march] with you; He will not fail you or let you go or forsake you; [let there be no cowardice or flinching, but] fear not, neither become broken [in spirit—depressed, dismayed, and unnerved with alarm]. Deuteronomy 31:8 AMPC
I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:8 AMP
Sow the seed of life today, and prayerfully begin to speak life over yourself. We are tasked with using our God-given authority and creativity to name things and bring things into conformity.
Genesis 2:19 AMP- So the Lord God formed out of the ground every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name.
Proverbs 18:21 AMP- Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.
He will not defer or delay help on your behalf. God is faithful to his promises, will he find you in faith?
Withstand being overpowered by anxiety, worry, or doubt. Throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon him; you are his personal concern.
Luke 18:7 AMPC- And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf?
Psalm 55:22 AMP- Cast your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you; He will never allow the [consistently] righteous to be moved (made to slip, fall, or fail).
How do you respond to God in difficult circumstances? God hasn’t changed; there is no shadow of evil in Him. Goodness is his essence and nature, and this is reason enough for giving him thanks.
Psalm 118:1 AMPC: O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving kindness endure forever!
On this side of eternity, there will be many dry places, and the Lord has made provision ahead of these times and seasons, and we see this all through the scriptures. The dry places could look like a number of emotions, situations, & circumstances that rob us of the joy we should have. This is not God’s intention for us.
Isaiah 12:3 AMPC- Therefore with joy will you draw water from the wells of salvation.
2 Peter 1:3 TLB: For as you know him better, he will give you, through his great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: he even shares his own glory and his own goodness with us!
The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.”Zephaniah 3:17 CEV
Because God himself is in the midst of his people, they stand unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. His help is not delayed in any way.
God not only reveals His greatness to us; He also invites us to partake in His reality.
You can expect victory in hard circumstances. For everything man has declared humanly impossible, God steps in today and shows himself strong on your behalf. Only believe; don't doubt.
Jeremiah 32:27 AMPC: Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is there anything too hard for Me?
Luke 1:37 AMPC: For with God, nothing is ever impossible, and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.
Abraham kept believing in God’s promise. He wasn’t having conversations in his mind about whether God would come through for him. Whatever reality you are faced with, choose to trust. God He never fails.
Yet he refused to allow any distrust of a definite pronouncement of God to make him waver. He drew strength from his faith, and while giving the glory to God, remained absolutely convinced that God was able to implement his own promise. Romans 4:20-21 JBP
God’s ability to hear and answer prayer is a constant theme throughout the Bible. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes God's responsiveness.
For the Lord watches over the righteous, and His ears are attuned to their prayers. 1 Peter 3:12 Voice
Many times we get angry at the Lord when things do not turn out the way we expect. We all get angry, and when we do, sin is not far behind.
What does the Lord require from us at such a time that we feel offended by Him?
James 4:6 Voice- You may think that the situation is hopeless, but God gives us more grace when we turn away from our own interests.
God is good and does what is good, sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are anything but good. In those moments when we can’t see the end, it becomes difficult to trust, but if we choose to trust, there is a level of intimacy we come into. There is also the benefit of finding ourselves. Yes, and this comes from identification; when we gain a better understanding of God, only then do we know ourselves better. Who we are in Him and what we have in Him.
Romans 5:3-5 MSG- There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Be mindful of your thoughts, don’t be like Job who constantly allowed negative thoughts. Focus only on the voice that matters, while you shut out all other voices competing for your attention.
You should do the same thing Jesus did and recommended in Mark 5:36 AMPC- Overhearing but ignoring what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear; only keep on believing.
Mark 5:36 MSG- “Don’t listen to them, just trust me.”
Mark 5:36 TPT- “Don’t yield to fear. All you need to do is to keep on believing”.
There’s no risk of failure with God. So why would you let worry paralyze you?
No matter how many of God's promises there are, Christ carries out and fulfills all of them. God is faithful.
2 Corinthians 1:20 :
In Jesus we hear a resounding “yes” to all of God’s many promises. This is the reason we say “Amen” to and through Jesus when giving glory to God. [Voice]
For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God. [AMP]
He carries out and fulfills all of God’s promises, no matter how many of them there are; and we have told everyone how faithful he is, giving glory to his name.
Have you ever cried out to God, "How Long?’ amid a waiting period that seemed to go on forever?
There are a few things we can do when we are in waiting seasons. You will be blessed by this episode and others where we discussed some effective waiting techniques. You’ll find these in Ep. 2: The Waiting Posture Ep. 21: While You Wait Ep 23: Waiting & Resting Ep 53: Waiting Hopefully & Expectantly.
God never uses illness to chastise or teach you a lesson; rather, He always brings life, hope, healing, and restoration. The enemy is the one who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. Christ reconciles every broken thing to God through what He accomplished on the cross. It is counterproductive to do things that push you away from the very life he paid the price to have. In fact, here is what he says about such actions in Matthew 12:26: "Any kingdom divided against itself is bound to collapse, and no town or household divided against itself can last for long."
God is actively watching over his word to accomplish it
You may have prayed for days, months, and even years, and you are yet to see his promises fulfilled. Don’t give up hope; the promises are now about to be fulfilled, not in the distant future. No, they are about to happen. The healing, victory, children & all you have been believing are here. Things may still look like they have always been, but don’t be discouraged; the time is now. Continue to hold fast to the hope you acknowledge without wavering, for the One who made the promise is trustworthy.
Jeremiah 1:12 AMPC Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
God is good and does what is good, sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are anything but good. In those moments when we can’t see the end, it becomes difficult to trust, but if we choose to trust, there is a level of intimacy we come into. There is also the benefit of finding ourselves. Yes, and this comes from identification; when we gain a better understanding of God, only then do we know ourselves better. Who we are in Him and what we have in Him.
Romans 5:3-5 MSG- There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Be confident that God hasn’t forsaken you; He is with you, and he will perfect all that concerns you. Whatever the promises you are believing for, those in the word or those he spoke to you personally—he will fulfil them.
Psalms 138:8 TPT- You keep every promise you’ve ever made to me! Since your love for me is constant and endless, I ask you, Lord, to finish every good thing that you’ve begun in me!
Start by seeking God's will and His direction as you plan.
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG
If you want favor with both God and man, and a reputation for good judgment and common sense, then trust the Lord completely; don’t ever trust yourself. In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:5-6 TLB
Who better to trust to help you lay hold of the promises than the one who made the promise? Will you trust Him to guide you and enable you take possession of them? So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest], because of their unwillingness to adhere to and trust in and rely on God [unbelief had shut them out]. Hebrews 3:19 AMPC
In the midst of difficulty and at the most appropriate time, the Lord appears. God is of a gracious disposition, and he says he has resolved to be merciful to those who wait on him.
Isaiah 30:18 AMP- And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show loving-kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Do it God’s way so that you may enjoy the full supply of the Spirit, who knows how to brood over shapeless, chaotic, and dark situations to produce the word that accomplishes God’s purpose.
Genesis 1:2 GNT- The earth was formless and desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, and the Spirit of God was moving over the water.Then God commanded, “Let there be light”—and light appeared.
Ezekiel 37:1-2 & 7
The power of the Lord was upon me and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley full of old, dry bones that were scattered everywhere across the ground. He led me around among them,
So I spoke these words from God, just as he told me to; and suddenly there was a rattling noise from all across the valley, and the bones of each body came together and attached to each other as they used to be.
*Read Ezekiel 37:1-14
Waiting to lay hold of something we desire can be difficult, and it can be even more challenging when we can't physically see what we are anticipating. It is an uncomfortable place to be, and today's episode sheds light on how to wait actively and positively.
God wants you to rest assured knowing He is by your side even during the most trying moments, helping you get through them and providing you with the strength to overcome them.
When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 TLB
In difficult times and periods of prolonged waiting, it is easy to feel like God is distant or that He is withholding what we are believing for from us because of something we have done wrong. Remember, whatever you are going through does not determine God’s position towards you. In the last podcast, titled The Seed of Doubt, we focused on how the enemy uses doubt as a tool and how, if unchecked, it can have negative effects.
Today, in light of God's word, we will be discussing the feeling of unworthiness—that sense of never being enough.
John 3:17 MSG: God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.
In this episode, we'll be looking at how to overcome doubt.
Don't let the odds of any situation keep you from trusting God. When you find yourself blindsided by overwhelming odds, find out what God's position on the matter is and hold on to it.
Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. Philippians 4:8 AMP
Be confident God hears your prayers, and He responds to those prayers according to His will.
This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that [a]if we ask anything according to His will,[that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. 1 John 5:14 AMP
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6 NKJV
Knowing that God is with you and will help you in any situation should leave no room for doubt, fear, anxiety, or worry in your life. Have full confidence in God's protection and provision.
Hebrews 13:6 AMP - So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”
No matter the challenge you may be facing on your journey to fertility, you can be sure that Jesus fully understands and empathizes with you. He will come through for you. Continue to express your faith in him and never stop trusting him.
Romans 8:28 AMP - And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.
Quit striving to gain the promises of God in the flesh; trust God completely.
The invitation to enter His rest is still valid; all you need to do is believe.
Hebrews 4:2 NLT - For this good news—that God has prepared this rest—has been announced to us just as it was to them. But it did them no good because they didn’t share the faith of those who listened to God.
Here is God’s remarkable promise to all who trust in him: “I will not forget you.”
Isaiah 46:16 The Voice- Look here. I have made you a part of Me, written you on the palms of My hands. Your city walls are always on My mind, always My concern.
It is easy to think we’ve been forsaken and, at other times, that we are unworthy of what we are believing for once we experience delay, regardless of what we know God has promised us.
By all outward appearances, Abraham and Sarah's case seemed impossible. They both, at different times, laughed at God's promise to them. God is not only interested in the outcome; he is much more interested in our journey, and who we become. The account we read of them in the verses below shows us how far they had come from where they started.
Romans 4: 18-20 [VOICE]- Against the odds, Abraham’s hope grew into full-fledged faith that he would turn out to be the father of many nations, just as God had promised when He said, “That’s how many your descendants will be.”[a]His faith did not fail, although he was well aware that his impotent body, after nearly 100 years, was as good as dead and that Sarah’s womb, too, was dead.In spite of all this, his faith in God’s promise did not falter. In fact, his faith grew as he gave glory to God
Hebrews 11:11 [VOICE]- By faith Abraham’s wife Sarah became fertile long after menopause because she believed God would be faithful to His promise.
You have a choice; will you take hold of all that is available?
And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity. 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need! Psalm 23:1 TLB
We are not only to speak from a position of belief, but we are also to receive from there.
Mark 11:23-24 NKJV- For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
God knows what we need before we ask and has made provisions long before we ask for them. Life challenges do not diminish God’s power.
Ephesians 3:20 TPT- Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.
Choose not to let the odds derail your faith in God's promises; take God at his word. Believe in God even in the face of discouraging facts.
Romans 4:18 TPT- Against all odds, when it looked hopeless, Abraham believed the promise and expected god to fulfill it. He took God at his word, and as a result he became the father of many nations. God’s declaration over him came to pass: “your descendants will be so many that they will be impossible to count!” In spite of being nearly one hundred years old when the promise of having a son was made, his faith was so strong that itcould not be undermined by the fact that he and Sarah were incapable of conceiving a child. 20-21 He never stopped believing God’s promise, for he was made strong in his faith to father a child. And because he was mighty in faith and convinced that God had all the power needed to fulfill his promises, Abraham glorified God!
"Don’t yield to fear. All you need to do is to keep on believing"
Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.
God will meet you at the point of your faith, let your belief be framed by the revelation of God’s word.
“Don’t yield to fear. All you need to do is to keep on believing.”
Hebrews 11:6- And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him.
God sure knows how to bestow really good things. He satisfies our years with good things, so that our youth is renewed. Glory!
God is giving you a new lease on life and giving you renewed power, so you are not too old to be a mother.
Psalm 92:14 AMP- [Growing in grace] they will still thrive and bear fruit and prosper in old age; they will flourish andbe [a] vital and fresh [rich in trust and love and contentment];
There is no better way to welcome the new year than to start with gratitude to God.
We would like to wish you a very Happy New Year. If you are new here, welcome to Believe and Declare, a podcast for women of faith on the journey to fertility. Join us every Sunday as we dive into what God has for us this year, also follow us on Instagram as we fan the flames of faith with daily words and prayers.
Today we’ll raise a praise offering.
Do you know there are scriptures that teach God’s position on your current circumstance? Do you also know God is all powerful and nothing is too hard for him?
Matthew 22:29 AMP: Jesus replied, "Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures [which teach God’s position] and you don’t know the power of God [he is all-powerful and nothing is too hard for him].
When we know God’s position on a matter and believe it, faith rises, and faith plus the power of God brings results.
In today's episode, we look at God's ability and willingness to meet the needs of women on the journey to fertility, and on this truth, we speak into the future of our children.
Psalm 113:9 TPT: God's grace provides for the barren ones a joyful home with children so that even childless couples find a family. He makes them happy parents, surrounded by their pride and joy. That's the God we praise, so give it all to him!
Today, in faith, release the power of life that is capable of bringing health to your body.
Jeremiah 30:17 MSG- As for you, I’ll come with healing, curing the incurable, Because they all gave up on you and dismissed you as hopeless—that good-for-nothing Zion.’
Oftentimes we mistakenly compare God’s faithfulness to ours, but that's not the case. God is faithful; He keeps His words.
Psalm 33:4 AMP For the word of the Lord is right; and all His work is done in faithfulness.
There will be times on the journey when it will look like you are making progress towards the promise and seeing its actualization, only for it to fizzle out or end abruptly.
God is fully aware of what must be done, how it must be done, and when it must be done. Trust His timing.
Habakkuk 2:3 MSG- This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.
It's easy to become discouraged, when God doesn't seem to be working as you wait on him. Don’t give up.
Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord. Psalm 27:14 AMP
Cease striving, surrender your anxiety. Let go of it; God is in control. Stand firm, knowing God is your refuge and strength [mighty and impenetrable], a very present and well-proven help in trouble. Ps 46:1 AMP
Psalm 46:10 NASB - “[a]Stop striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the [b]nations, I will be exalted on the earth.”
After praying about your needs, let go of all your worries. Don’t reel them back in as you leave; leave them there. They are no longer your responsibilities. Allow God to handle them His way; trust him to do what is best.
1 Peter 5:7 AMP- Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
1 Peter 5:7 TPT-Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
What do you do when you face an impossible situation? Do you shut God and Others out? Let your response in times of difficulty or trouble be to turn to God in prayer. Seek to know what God’s stand on the matter is. Pray with transparency, it’s okay to be vulnerable. This way, you are able to trust and rely on God.
2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.
There’s no risk of failure with God! So why would you let worry paralyze you? Psalm 62:6c TPT
Don’t let anxiety or worry be anchors that keep you from experiencing what God has in store for you.
We are all faced with many troubles as we go through life, but Christ gives us hope. He assured us of our continuous victory by leaving His peace with us, which is a peace that transcends all human understanding. His peace is always with us, His peace transcends whatever season we are in, and what we are going through.
Without coming to Christ for rest, we are destined to occasionally feel restless while we wait. We are urged throughout the pages of the Bible to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him since waiting can make us anxious.
You are not intended to simply survive while you await the fulfilment of God's promises to you. You have the ability to flourish, thrive, and make a difference. Don't wait passively
While waiting for the fulfillment of God's promises, there will be moments when you just want God to tell you when the wait will be over or demonstrate how He will go about fulfilling the promise. I'll be revealing two (2) things you can do differently in today's podcast.
When it looks hopeless, it's difficult to believe any good can come out of such a situation. Abraham's case was hopeless, and so was Joseph; both held on to the promises of God; and they laid hold of the promises. Let the promises you received get you through the trying times until the Lord's word manifests itself in your life.
2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
Many times we let our faith slip the minute we don’t see instant results. Hold fast, don’t stagger at the promises of God and don’t slip into unbelief.
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV- And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.
Can’t see any hope for your situation? Speaking words of faith is vital to taking what God has provided for you.
2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV- And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.
Through the Holy Spirit, you have within you the same spirit, power, and potential as Jesus Christ.
No doubt, you maybe suffering in a number of ways that no one seems to understand, and are extremely distressed and or agitated. Don’t let that situation define you or rob you of the peace God has made available to you.
Don't give up, that tough challenge is within God's area of specialty; He has you covered.
Psalms 9:10 TPT
For everyone who knows your wonderful name keeps putting their trust in you. They can count on you for help no matter what. O Lord, you will never, no never, neglect those who come to you.
2 Corinthians 4:13 NKJV
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.
The enemy will tempt you to believe that God has abandoned you, nothing could be further from the truth! Discouraging thoughts will come, bring them into obedience in Christ as you identify them. Impart the truth of God’s Word to minister to them.
2 Corinthians 4:13- And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak.
God wants you to talk to Him, and He also wants us to speak to mountains of obstacles in our way. Don't go about talking about, speak to it. Jesus said we are to pray with full persuasion, that we will receive what we ask in prayer, and we will.
God wants you to talk to Him, and He also wants us to speak to mountains of obstacles in our way. Don't go about talking about, speak to it.
Jesus said we are to pray with full persuasion, that we will receive what we ask in prayer, and we will.
Don't shut the door against yourself, you've been invited to draw from the wells of salvation with joy. God is more than enough and He has made provision ahead of your need.
It's easy to get distracted when answers to our prayers seem delayed. Gradually, we begin to cut down on prayer times or even stop praying outrightly. Today's episode sheds light on the benefits of pressing in such situations. If you persevere, you will see the answers delivered to you.
Trust the Arm of the Lord to make all things work together for your good, trust Him to bring to pass all His promises. Don't make the mistake of trying to obtain God’s promises in the flesh.
Today, we’ll look at few scriptures that helps us understand that God truly cares for us and He's our ever present help. I hope by the end of today’s episode you will confidently say you are certain God is with you today and always no matter the circumstance.
There is a blessing or more somewhere in there, Let God use you to bring healing and comfort to those around you.
God comforts and encourages us in every trouble so that we will be able to comfort and encourage those who are in any kind of trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4
Waiting can play havoc with our emotions especially when we are trying to conceive, today's epsisode focuses on ways to break free from this vicious cycle and how to live purposefully
God misses nothing, He sees you, He knows your pain and He's not sitting idle. God hasn't stopped, he continues to answer prayers.
There's a lot going on behind the scene even when you don't see it, God is watching over you and with you.
We all face circumstances in our lives which at often times cause us to worry, be fearful or even frustrated. In today's episode I share a few verse that has helped me on this journey. I am certain wherever you are, whoever you are, God has you covered!
God uses His hands, and in His hands are Power and might. His hand dispenses what we need; courage, strength, protection and much more.
Today we reflect on divine help from the one who truly loves us and cares for us more than we can ever care for ourselves.
Does it feel like an endless waiting period? In this episode we look at waiting the right way especially when we can't see what God is doing.
Infertilty could be daunting and many women go through their fertility journey silently, feeling frustrated and isolated. Most women lack the support they need, more so the christian woman. In this episode we share biblical truth and declaration that boost your faith, affirms your worthiness and reinforce your identity. While reminding you of God's love and power.