For a woman to be unable to have children in the ancient world was one of the worst things that could happen. All the below issues factored into the painful description, “barren.”

• A woman’s maternal instinct went unrealized.
• Her husband might find another woman to bring his children into the world.
• Her barrenness would be used against her by other women who were jealous of her otherwise superior standing.
• A barren woman was considered cursed by God for some unknown sin.

God often turns the world upside down. In a statement of striking good news to those who feel as desperate as a barren woman, He says:

Shout for joy, O barren one who has borne no children;
burst into song and shout,
you who have not been in labor!
For the children of the desolate woman will be more
than the children of the one who is married, says the Lord.

Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
do not hold back; lengthen your cords
and strengthen your stakes. (Isaiah 54:1-2)

I am thankful for counselors who expend the time and energy to help people whose lives are as painful as the barren woman of Isaiah’s day. The fact that some people turn to video counseling and AI chatbots to receive help is an indicator of the level of pain in our nation.

Painful times that need restoration are a fact of life that is common to all.

Our intense pain does not go unnoticed by God. He knows all about us: our name, hopes, dreams, pains, struggles, and much more.

He promised to turn our barrenness into blessing, if we are willing to receive the offer of His love, grace, and direction. The restoration the Lord promises is so abundant that the barren woman must enlarge the size of her family’s tent.

Confident in the Lord

Whistling in the dark may bring some comfort to a scary moment, but it is of no help at all. Talking to the Lord during the dark night of the soul demonstrates our trust, even in the midst of troubling circumstances.

As we speak with the Lord, He speaks to us.

For your Maker is your husband;
the Lord of hosts is his name;
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
the God of the whole earth he is called.

For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:5, 10)

I expect most husbands would like to think that they are pretty good to their wives. I also believe that most husbands would recognize that they cannot compare in a million years to God, who says, “Your Maker is your husband.”

Whether male or female, when we go through a barren season, we can trust the Lord, our Redeemer, to be our heavenly Husband. He has promised His love for us that is steadfast and compassionate.

Many of God’s finest servants have gone through times of dryness and barrenness. Almost with united voices they say that God did things in these times that otherwise He could not have done. They realized that when their faith was not supported by feelings, it was demonstrated by continued faithfulness.

The African American church has an expression, “going through.” One man told me, “We say we’re going through, because we’re not staying there.”

When we go through a barren and dry season, let’s cling to what we know about the Lord.

• Our Maker is our trusted Husband.
• He is our Redeemer and the Creator of the entire universe.
• His love is steadfast toward us.
• Even though things are dismal, God has not removed His relationship of peace with us.
• God has compassion on us.

YouTube Discussion

Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.