Do you have a fondness for gifts? Do you feel that there are things you wish to pray for, but you hesitate because you feel they won't be heard by the Lord due to the sins you have committed? Do you believe that the things we pray for can indeed be granted to us by the Lord? Matthew 7:11 in the Bible says:

I think one of my love languages is giving gifts. I love giving simple things to the people close to me. I don't know why, but it really makes me happy when they're happy. There are even times when I'm more excited to see the person I gave a gift to open it than they are. Sometimes, people also give me gifts and I really appreciate it, no matter how simple, because I know it means something to the person giving it to me, just like how I value the people I give gifts to.

But there is one gift that I desire the most. That until now I am still waiting for the answer and continually praying to the Lord.

My husband and I have been married for several years now, since 2015, and until now, we still do not have a child. That is the prayer we continually lift to the Lord because it is what we, as a couple, desire the most. For several years, we have been unable to conceive because I went abroad. I was away from my spouse for a number of years after we got married and I ultimately resigned to be with him. There were times when I would cry over that prayer because I believe that children are a gift from the Lord, so I have always prayed for it even before I had a proper relationship with Him. There were occasions when I fell into depression because the Lord has not yet granted us the blessing of having children.

There are times in my life when I do not want to open social media because I only see pregnant women. I am happy for my friends because they are pregnant, but I feel pity for myself because we still do not have a baby. I still cannot get pregnant. I am still in pain because both my husband and I have gone through our own struggles since we were young, so I feel that this has added to the reasons why we are having difficulty conceiving a child. However, I believe that this is still in accordance with the will of the Lord.

When I came to know the Lord, I poured out all my sorrows to Him. My longing to become a mother. I have been very affectionate towards Him every day, asking Him to grant us the baby we, as a couple, have been yearning for. And there I noticed that over time, He was giving us something else. 

He is mending our hearts and minds. The pain I used to feel whenever I saw someone pregnant has been replaced by joy in serving the Lord.

The Lord is gradually setting our lives in order. He has adjusted our way of faith so that we recognize that He is more important than our desires in life.

He has bestowed upon us many gifts that I never imagined I would achieve during my youth. Since I prayed for things that would ease our lives, the Lord has granted us blessings that surpass what I dreamed of. More than what I had imagined.

I imagined a house, He gave me a good and happy home. We used to borrow a car, He gave us our own vehicle. We used to work as employees, now my spouse and I are the ones with employees. Everything we have comes from Him. He didn't withhold that from us. He gave it to us even when we didn't ask for it. Because the Lord saw our needs.

We may not have received the gift we have been longing for, but we have received the gift of salvation from the Lord, which cannot be matched by anything else. That is the gift that will always surpass all. Yes, My husband and I are still in a waiting season, but I know that the Lord is capable of doing and giving everything as long as it aligns with His will. Therefore, even as we continue to wait for what we have been praying for, we will keep on expressing our gratitude and worshiping the Lord.

If you're happy with the blessings given by the Lord and your heart is overflowing with gratitude, even for those who are still waiting for their own gifts from the Lord, join me in a short prayer.

Great God, Our Father in heaven, Almighty God, thank You for Your grace. For the things You have granted and will grant us. We do not deserve to receive gifts from You because we are sinners, but thank You for considering us. You have given us life which You continually bestow with beautiful blessings despite our filth. Lord, we believe that You are the Almighty. All that You wish to give us is easy for You. Please grant us what is good for us and give us a heart that knows how to return gratitude and praise to You. All of this we lift up in the name of our beloved Jesus, Amen.

Thank you very much for your time. All praise belongs to God.