I have come across many couples who don’t have children. For some its a matter of grief to their hearts. In fact for most, its a matter of sadness.Others just accept it as it is and move on with life. In fact childlessness can happen to any couple irrespective of Family background, social and economic status and religion.

Some choose the path of IVF and see their desire come true. In some countries, not having a child puts much social pressure on the woman and she suffers in silence. Many times I have seen couples who had to answer why don’t you have children? Are you visiting a doctor and getting treatment? …

In the old testament there are many examples of barren women who could bear children at a later stage in their life.

³¹ And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but Rachel was barren.

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

² And Jacob’s anger was kindled against Rachel: and he said, Am I in God’s stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

²² And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.

1 Samuel 1

And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:

⁵ But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the Lord had shut up her womb.

⁶ And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb.

¹⁰ And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

¹¹ And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

¹⁹ And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the Lord remembered her.

²⁰ Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the Lord.

In Psalms its mentioned, Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Indeed children are a reward from God. Its He who opens and shuts up the womb.

In the new testament period in which we live, its still a fact that its God who opens and shuts up the womb. Its as per His good pleasure.

And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

² And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

³ Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

Revelation 4

⁸ And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

⁹ And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

¹⁰ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We should never over look the fact that our Creator God is also our Heavenly Father. 

When Jesus was resurrected, He mentioned – John 20:17

but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

God is our Heavenly Father. He definitely knows what’s best for us. I know about couples having children after a long period of waiting. I also know cases where God chose not to give children to some godly couples.

He is God. At the same time our Heavenly Father who knows what’s best for us. He will not withheld that what’s best for us. 

If you are one who have a child, love the child as a gift from God and bring up the child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.)

If God chose not to give a child, let His will be done as He knows best.

Paul mentioned about marriage in 1 Corinthians 7

³² But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

³³ But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

³⁴ There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

³⁵ And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

If the Lord please not to give a child, let the wife love her husband and pray to God for guidance as how to use their lives as pleasing to the Lord. The Lord has a specific purpose for each of our lives. The Lord will reveal His will and let the couple’s lives be a blessing to many!

²⁶ Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.

Jesus prayed –

⁴² Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

 

It can be difficult when the husband is not a believer in Christ. In such cases, the Bible mentions as below. –> It does not imply to be subject to a violent or an abusive husband which endangers the wive’s or children’s lives. Also if the husband insists on something which is contradictory to the Lord’s clear teaching, there is no need to obey that particular thing, because a woman has to give more importance to the headship of Christ and then to the headship of her husband. But otherwise let the wife live with her husband and win him to Christ through her behaviour. The Lord will give the grace to the wife who tries to honour the Lord through her behaviour.

1 Peter

3 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;

² While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.

³ Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

⁴ But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

⁵ For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

⁶ Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

 

1 Corinthians 7

¹⁰ And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

¹¹ But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

¹² But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

¹³ And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

¹⁵ But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

¹⁶ For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

¹⁷ But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.