Naomi sat there, beaming. Finally, after trying for a long time, Yasir and she were going to have a child. They had been married for ten years and had tried and tried to start a family but were unsuccessful. He wasn’t the problem and she feared that she was barren like Sarah of the Bible. She was in her mid-thirties and healthy so there was no medical reason why she couldn’t conceive.
“Maybe God closed up your womb,” a church sister told her. “Maybe He’s angry with you for marrying a non-Christian man.”
“God wouldn’t do that,” Naomi told her. “How many examples are there in the Bible of marriages between God’s people and people from other nations? Both Joseph and Solomon married Egyptian women and Moses married an Ethiopian. No, God isn’t angry with me because I married Tariq. There must be another reason why we aren’t able to have children.”
“You married a Muslim. They don’t believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”
“You’re mistaken about Yasir. He’s is Arab, not Muslim. And, the God whom I serve wouldn’t punish me for marrying him. Perhaps you should read where it says in the Bible that the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife.” And, having said that, Naomi turned and walked away. The following Sunday, the church sister, apologized for her remarks.
Night after night, she prayed and asked God to bless Yasir and her with a child. She refused to give up like Hannah. Even as the years went by and still no answer to her prayers, she continued praying. She was encouraged by the persistent widow who kept going to the judge for justice until he finally gave in because she pestered him so much or the mother of unwavering faith who cried out to Jesus because she knew that only He could help her daughter.
Naomi prayed, “If it is Your will, Lord, I pray that you would bless Yasir and me with a child.”
During the periods when she began to feel discouraged, she read the story of Elizabeth. She had to wait for years before God finally blessed Zacharias and her with a son. She learned to trust in God no matter what and that He had a plan and purpose for her life. She was a wife and if it was His will she would be a mother too. If He decided that she wouldn’t be a mother as painful as that would be, she would accept it because she trusted that God knew best. Perhaps, He would bless Yasir and her with a child but not a biological one. They could adopt. She knew couples who couldn’t have their own children so they ended up adopting children from Asia, South America and Africa. And they couldn’t be happier.
Yasir and she talked about adoption. And they considered which countries they would adopt a child from. They talked to the couples who had adopted, seeking their advice and getting information on the agencies they used. Yasir and she decided that if they didn’t have a child by the end of the current year, they would adopt. She tried to convince herself that perhaps, there was a child out there whom God wanted them to love and raise as their own. Still, she couldn’t help wishing that she could have her own child and to feel that precious life growing inside her.
Yasir and she continued trying to have their own child. Then, one day, something incredible. She skipped her period. And, she began to feel as if she was coming down with something. She did a home pregnancy test and it was positive. Excited, she made an appointment with her doctor. She didn’t say anything to Yasir because she didn’t want to get his hopes up.
She went for her appointment and do the tests. When her doctor said to her, “Congratulations, Naomi, you’re pregnant,” Naomi broke down and cried. Then, she praised God.
In a daze, she left her doctor’s office and took a taxi home. She went upstairs in the bedroom, knelt down beside the bed and prayed. She praised and thanked God for finally answering her prayers.
And now, here she was sitting on the sofa, her face glowing. She couldn’t wait to tell Yasir the exciting news. And, she couldn’t wait to tell the church member who made that foolish remark that in anger God had closed her womb because she had married Yasir.
When Yasir got home, dinner was ready. They had dinner and then, went into the living-room. She waited until they were sitting on the sofa before she said, “Yasir, I have some wonderful news for you.”
He looked at her. “You got a promotion?”
“No. I’m pregnant!”
His eyes widened. “What? Are you sure?”
“Yes! I took a home pregnancy test and it was positive. I went to see my doctor and she confirmed that I’m pregnant.”
“Oh, Honey,” he muttered, putting his arms around her. “That is wonderful news.” They kissed.
“Yes, God finally answered my prayers.”
“Our prayers.”
She stared at him. “You were praying too?”
“Yes. And I’ve been reading the Bible too. I’m reading the Gospel of Luke. I was very encouraged by the story of Elizabeth and Zacharias. They had no children and they were now too old. But, they must have prayed for a child for years. When the angel told Zacharias, ‘Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John’ I thought that if God could answer prayers so many years later, He could answer ours, especially if it’s His will for us to have a child. And when I read Chapter 18 of Luke where it says that Jesus spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, I decided that I would follow your example and pray too.”
Tears sprang to Naomi’s eyes. “God heard your prayers.”
They spent a long time, relaxing on the sofa, talking about the child they were going to have, what they would name him or her and when they were going to tell family and friends. Then, it was time to go to bed.
After they finished getting ready for bed, Yasir said to her, “I would like to get baptized.”
“Oh, Yasir, that’s wonderful. On Sunday, we can speak to Pastor Allen.”
“Okay.”
“What made you decide that you wanted to baptized?”
“I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and I want to commit my life to Him.”
“I’m so happy to hear that.” She went over to him and hugged him. “This is what I call a double blessing. You and I are going to have a child and you have just decided to give your life to Jesus.”
“I say this calls for a celebration, don’t you?”
“Yes, it does.” She pulled away from him. “I’ll be right back.”
She was about to walk away, when he caught her by the arm. “Where are you going?” he asked.
“To get two glasses of non-alcoholic wine to celebrate our blessings.”
“I didn’t mean that kind of celebration.” He picked her up and carried her over to the bed.
Sources: The Gospel Coalition; Bible Info
Notes to Women 