What Infertility Means to the Enemy

I’ve been stumped for topics to write about for National Infertility Awareness Week (April 24-30). There are fantastic bloggers in my same camp who have been sharing infertility statistics, stories, and posts. I tried writing, but I couldn’t come up with anything original or inspired.

As I struggled for inspiration, doubt crept in. And there they were — lies from the Enemy, attempting to shatter my spirit and confidence. You have nothing important to say. Your story doesn’t matter. You’ll never be good enough. Your joy through infertility is only momentary; you’ll someday lose it. Why are you even trying? No one cares.

Well, sister, the Enemy loves broken bodies. He loves broken spirits. And for those who have walked it, infertility is a confusing combination of both.

As we wait for a child amongst our broken bodies and minds, the Enemy uses infertility as:

A Chance to Deceive

The Hebrew name for “Satan” means an adversary, an enemy, and an accuser. Scripture calls him the “father of lies” (John 8:44). He’ll do anything within his grasp to twist the truth of God’s Word. He desires to make us believe that God doesn’t love us, that He’s forgotten us, or that we’re being punished through infertility. He’ll deceive us into believing that we aren’t blessed or less loved than those who have children, and that we don’t deserve good gifts.

Have you been deceived into believing those lies? I have. So this means we must prepare for his clever deception by knowing and standing firm on God’s truth.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Don’t be deceived: Remember that we are eternally secure in Christ’s arms — He has already won!

An Opportunity to Remind

As I shared in a prior post “Breaking Free from Guilt,” the Enemy craves to remind us of our failures. He reminds us: Look at what you’ve been, what you’ve done. There’s no way God wants you after all your failures. He’ll jump at the opportunity to remind us of our past: Remember your sexual rebellion and lack of obedience? Remember your dirtiness? You are childless because of this.

But there’s no reason to believe this, for Jesus reminds us to forget who we’ve been and look at who we will be. Our past mistakes have no claim over us, and wallowing in an already forgiven past takes away the beauty of Christ’s sacrifice.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

A great quote from Charles Spurgeon:

I know what the devil will say to you.  He will say to you, ‘You are a sinner!’ Tell him you know you are, but that for all that you are justified. He will tell you of the greatness of your sin. Tell him of the greatness of Christ’s righteousness. He will tell you of all your mishaps and your backslidings, of your offences and your wanderings. Tell him, and tell your own conscience, that you know all that, but that Jesus Christ came to save sinners, and that, although your sin be great, Christ is quite able to put it all away. — Charles Spurgeon

A Platform for Lies

I’ll admit that there have been times when I’ve read something or heard “advice” that gets me thinking in the wrong direction. I’ll be tempted to jump into believing truths that the world offers — but if they are not God’s truths, they hinder thriving. Satan knows exactly when we’re desperate and most prone to believe lies. Infertility is a fantastic opportunity for him to spit lies that appeal to our immediate needs.

Naturally, we crave comfort, security, and affirmation, which means we’ll do anything to avoid pain and suffering. But when we start listening to the Enemy, unbiblical solutions can sound reasonable and right to us, yet can be dead wrong. James tells us where following our own desires will eventually lead:

But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin and sin, when it is fully grown brings forth death. (James 1:14-15)

For those of you who are using infertility as an opportunity to share the Gospel and God’s goodness through suffering, the Enemy is hating it. Why? Because it advances God’s Kingdom and glorifies Jesus Christ. Satan desires for us to live cowardly, without confidence, and to stay away from opportunities to advance Christ.

Perhaps you’re believing the lie that you can accomplish everything within your own strength. Maybe you believe you don’t need the Lord to get you through infertility. Beware of this path, because the Enemy’s favorite tactic is to take advantage of those who feel confident of their own abilities and strengths and don’t believe they could ever fall.

… But He’ll Never Win

The Good News is that Jesus delivered a death blow to our Enemy, and though he still tries to create havoc in our lives through lies and deception, he no longer has authority over us. The very reason that the Son of God took on flesh and blood for us was “that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Christ’s death on the cross took away our sins, satisfied the law — and He defeated Satan, disarming the power that he holds over people.

Jesus will return to finally take his kingdom and authority back. As we wait for our rightful Author and Owner to come back, we can rejoice confidently in God’s words from the book of Isaiah:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Sister, are you immersing yourself in the Word to provide truth that leads to life, holiness, and everlasting joy? Or are you falling into deception from the Enemy? If we aren’t abiding in God’s Word, we will be deceived. Will you be led into grumbling, self-pity, and discontentment? Or will you rise victorious, living in peace, contentment, and boldness? I choose victory!