God, Religion and Infertility

I posted on Scrapshare my conundrum... got a ton of responses that were very supportive. Here are my 2 posts== the, for lack of better terms, the alpha and omega. ;)

Ok, if you haven't read my posts or don't really know me, I can't get pregnant w/o IVF, and even then the "fresh" cycles don't seem to work. I absolutely CAN NOT get pregnant "naturally." We tried for SIX years w/o drs. Nothing. My question is this: for those of you who use no birth control and believe that how many children they have is not something they, but God, controls, how do you explain infertility? My gut, knee-jerk reaction is that God doesn't want me getting pregnant or having my own natural children. Then I move to the explanation that He wants me to take the "tougher" route. (Which makes no sense when I think about it) How do you explain man's way to conceive through IVF? Are those women who are able to get pregnant very easily meant to, in God's eyes, be mothers whereas those who don't/can't, are we not? How does religion, any, explain infertility?This is something I really stuggle with, spiritually. I have the Little Man , and he's a blessing I know. He'd be a one even if I didn't have to struggle like I did to get him. I just always wonder why God chooses some of us to have a harder time than others. Given the above, why did God give man the knowledge to reproduce via IVF and other technologies? My view is that it is going against God's wishes, but if He *really* didn't want you pregnant, you wouldn't ever get preg, yk? Like perhaps the infertility is a way of having you second think parenthood. That's how I am able to cope with doing IVF, personally, and that if I get pregnant with more children than is safe for them and me, that I would be able to selectively reduce. If I'm "playing God" to get pregnant, I will "play God" when it comes to aspects of it. If someone could give me some good, religious POV's on infertility, I'd really appreciate it. I'm also going to email this to my minister to get his op. Thanks for the explanations...Ok, if you haven't read my posts or don't really know me, I can't get pregnant w/o IVF, and even then the "fresh" cycles don't seem to work. I absolutely CAN NOT get pregnant "naturally." We tried for SIX years w/o drs. Nothing. My question is this: for those of you who use no birth control and believe that how many children they have is not something they, but God, controls, how do you explain infertility? My gut, knee-jerk reaction is that God doesn't want me getting pregnant or having my own natural children. Then I move to the explanation that He wants me to take the "tougher" route. (Which makes no sense when I think about it) How do you explain man's way to conceive through IVF? Are those women who are able to get pregnant very easily meant to, in God's eyes, be mothers whereas those who don't/can't, are we not? How does religion, any, explain infertility?This is something I really stuggle with, spiritually. I have the Little Man , and he's a blessing I know. He'd be a one even if I didn't have to struggle like I did to get him. I just always wonder why God chooses some of us to have a harder time than others. Given the above, why did God give man the knowledge to reproduce via IVF and other technologies? My view is that it is going against God's wishes, but if He *really* didn't want you pregnant, you wouldn't ever get preg, yk? Like perhaps the infertility is a way of having you second think parenthood. That's how I am able to cope with doing IVF, personally, and that if I get pregnant with more children than is safe for them and me, that I would be able to selectively reduce. If I'm "playing God" to get pregnant, I will "play God" when it comes to aspects of it. If someone could give me some good, religious POV's on infertility, I'd really appreciate it. I'm also going to email this to my minister to get his op. Thanks for the explanations...


Wow... I think this is the longest thread I"ve ever started and one that has definitely had a good conversation-- lots of insight. I actually had a moment last night while watching, of all movies "Evan Almighty" that made a poinient (sp?) statement. God was talking to Evan about why he wants him to build the ark and he says to him, "Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?" Go figure, but it hit home like a brick upside my head. I have prayed for children- lots of them, but they don't come the traditional way. Instead, God gave me things to get them: the technology, the patience, and the economic resources to get them. He didn't zap me pregnant. He gave me a strong maternal instinct. He lead us to a large house to fill with little lives. He gave me greeters in heaven who aren't my elder relatives-- something to look forward to. I kind of think that the infertility and lupus are indeed part of the sinned world we live in-- nothing I can do about it, but it is what it is.

Thanks to everyone for the strength and support. And for the record and update... I started Prometrium (progesterone) today and start lupron on Wednesday in prep for a frozen transfer on 4/23. Let's get praying for a set of twins! Or just one... someone to walk the Earth with me.

And on that note, off to bed b/c the new med is totally making me fall over asleep! I can hardly type!