December 23, 2022 • 11 mins
You may be going through a period where you feel like you’re being held captive by the trials and tribulations of this life. You can rest assured that it’s just a season. Find peace in knowing that you can make plans for the future, although your right now looks hopeless. God’s thoughts toward you are good, and His plans are to ensure that you complete your purpose on this side of heaven.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:10):
Welcome to the barber cast.
I asked,
I am your host,
Naomi K.
Thank you for listening for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not harm you.
Plans to give you hope and the future.
About 12 years ago.
(00:31):
This time of the year,
me and my husband found out we were expecting our first child and finding out about our new little blessing to be was definitely an amazing experience.
I had missed two of my monthly cycles.
But each time that I tested for conception at home,
the test came back negative and these weren't cheap,
(00:52):
unreliable tests.
I used assessments that were highly recommended for detecting high levels of HCG,
which is the hormone that verifies if a woman is with child or not.
Well,
I knew in my heart that I was carrying a little miracle.
So I decided to schedule a doctor's appointment to confirm whether or not a little one was on the way.
(01:16):
The doctor's appointment was a few weeks away.
And I was definitely hoping for a positive result.
I mean,
I don't believe I would have fallen apart if the results came back negative.
But I probably would have been a bit concerned about my reproductive health.
I was 32 years old when I married,
my husband and medical professionals consider the early 30s to be a time when women become less fertile,
(01:42):
they can bring a baby into the world safely.
But the chances of conceiving start to slip away as their bodies age.
And unfortunately in my case,
I did experience some reproductive issues as an adolescent.
So in my adult years I carried around thoughts of not being able to have a child in the back of my mind.
(02:03):
The weeks leading up to my appointment were a little agonizing.
I felt like I was walking around on eggshells everywhere that I went.
As a matter of fact my husband and I went to a christmas party during the wait time and I think I tiptoed in my heels that night of the party because I had heard miss about pregnant women miscarrying from walking around in high heel shoes.
(02:29):
I was a nervous happy mess.
And I also remember getting ready that night for the party and thinking to myself,
oh my wow!
I really might be pregnant.
Well the day finally came and I went to my appointment.
My husband and I arrived at the doctor's office and while I made my way to the bathroom to take your analysis test,
(02:55):
I asked the nurse if she would walk my husband back to the exam room so that we could get the news together.
I finished up and made my way back to the exam room to sit with my husband to wait for the results and we won't see that more than a few minutes before the nurse popped back into the room with the biggest smile on her face and she shared the news with me like a girlfriend,
(03:19):
would you're pregnant?
You're pregnant And my whole world just lit up immediately.
My husband pulled out his cellphone and captured that joy and as he was taking the picture,
I could see um,
the relief and excitement on his face as well because this would also be his first child.
(03:40):
Well,
we left the doctor's office to head home and on the drive home.
That's when the proclamations begin.
I just began to recite,
I am going to eat right,
I'm going to exercise every day.
I'm going to to rest when I need to and I'm going to pray over my baby every day.
(04:03):
My amen corner,
which is my husband was agreeing as well.
While he was throwing in a few of his own proclamations,
we were so overjoyed at the news and my husband wanted to pick up the phone and call everyone that he knew and tell them the wonderful news that we had just found out.
(04:24):
But I asked him to keep the news quiet until I got up into the months because there was still that little bit of worry in the back of my mind.
As we continued driving home,
a sweet silence crept into the car and a thought came to my mind and took me back to a memory of when I was 14 years old attending a church service in our own living room.
(04:50):
My mother,
a woman who had a servant's heart would allow local pastors around the city to use our home to launch their ministries when they couldn't afford a building.
Well one particular sunday,
a local pastor who was using our home to hold his ministry services,
called me up to the front at the end of the service.
(05:11):
He leaned over and asked my mom if it was okay for him to pray for me.
Seeing that I was such a young woman and he was an older gentleman and ministry.
Normally,
male pastors have a female elder accompany them or stand beside them when they're ministering to young women in the church,
especially young women,
(05:31):
but there wasn't a female available this particular day.
So my mother filled in.
She allowed him to pray for me While she looked on from a few feet across the room,
the pastor began to pray for me.
He prayed that I would experience success in my educational and employment endeavors.
He also prayed that I would have discernment when choosing friends and relationships as well as some other things.
(05:59):
I listened attentively as he prayed over me.
But what I focused my attention on the most was when he began to pray for my health,
he prayed that God would heal whatever feminine health issues were plaguing me.
My mom and I were a little confused by this part considering I was a healthy,
(06:19):
physically active teen with no adverse health conditions at the time.
However,
it sounded like a good prayer.
So we went along with it.
I know now looking back that God was showing him something down the line,
he went on to prophesy some other things to me,
but he also reassured me in that same prophecy that everything would be okay now.
(06:46):
Fast forward 18 years and having gone through years of reproductive struggles as a young girl,
I was sitting in the chair at my doctor's office filled with a belly full of miracle,
remembering that moment on the ride home in the car reminds me of another amazing moment in the word of God.
When Jeremiah wrote what I consider a love letter on behalf of God to the Children of Israel being held captive in Babylon In Jeremiah 29,
(07:18):
the Children of Israel had turned their backs on God and as a result of their rebellion,
they were captured by Nebuchadnezzar and sentenced to 70 years of captivity in Babylon,
Nebuchadnezzar and his armies laid siege to Jerusalem for over a year,
leaving it in ruins and destroying the temple.
(07:41):
Now,
while the Children of Israel were being held in captivity,
receiving the reward of their rebellion.
God did not forget about them and he never stopped loving them.
He had a plan for their redemption set in place way before their captivity.
God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah and he told him to write to the Children of Israel and in that letter that Jeremiah wrote,
(08:08):
God told his Children that he wanted them to live in peace.
They were in captivity when Jeremiah wrote this letter to them.
But in the letter,
God tells them he wants them to live in peace.
He said to them build houses and live in them.
Plant gardens and eat the fruit thereof.
(08:30):
Then get married and have babies so that your lineage lives on.
After God tells the Children of Israel.
His desire for them is to live in peace.
He then reminds them that he is still the promise keeper.
He says to them,
for I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
(08:51):
thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.
I love the way the new international version says it.
It says for I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Plans to give you hope and a future.
(09:12):
We can hold on to that same promise today.
My teenage reproductive issues weren't to result in my rebellion against God.
But God knew that I would experience them and as a result I faced the possibility of infertility.
However,
like the Children of Israel,
God sent me a word through his servant.
(09:34):
The apostle who laid hands on me,
prayed for me and gave me a word from the Lord regarding my future.
God wanted me to have peace in advance knowing that while I may go through a season of discomfort and concern about my health,
my future was bright and part of my worth as a woman would not fail,
(09:56):
he had good plans for me.
Listen,
you may be going through a period right now where you feel like you're being held captive by the trials and tribulations of this life.
You can rest assured that it's just a season,
find peace in knowing that you can make plans for the future.
Although you're right now looks hopeless.
(10:18):
God's thoughts towards you are good and his plans are to ensure that you complete your purpose on this side of heaven.
I've had three babies and I am a living testament to God.
Having the final say after The facts.
Speak volumes regardless of what you're going through right now in this life and in this season,
(10:43):
know this God always has the final say.
Thank you for listening.
Welcome to the barber cast.
I asked,
I am your host,
Naomi K.
Thank you for listening for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not harm you.
Plans to give you hope and the future.
About 12 years ago.
(00:31):
This time of the year,
me and my husband found out we were expecting our first child and finding out about our new little blessing to be was definitely an amazing experience.
I had missed two of my monthly cycles.
But each time that I tested for conception at home,
the test came back negative and these weren't cheap,
(00:52):
unreliable tests.
I used assessments that were highly recommended for detecting high levels of HCG,
which is the hormone that verifies if a woman is with child or not.
Well,
I knew in my heart that I was carrying a little miracle.
So I decided to schedule a doctor's appointment to confirm whether or not a little one was on the way.
(01:16):
The doctor's appointment was a few weeks away.
And I was definitely hoping for a positive result.
I mean,
I don't believe I would have fallen apart if the results came back negative.
But I probably would have been a bit concerned about my reproductive health.
I was 32 years old when I married,
my husband and medical professionals consider the early 30s to be a time when women become less fertile,
(01:42):
they can bring a baby into the world safely.
But the chances of conceiving start to slip away as their bodies age.
And unfortunately in my case,
I did experience some reproductive issues as an adolescent.
So in my adult years I carried around thoughts of not being able to have a child in the back of my mind.
(02:03):
The weeks leading up to my appointment were a little agonizing.
I felt like I was walking around on eggshells everywhere that I went.
As a matter of fact my husband and I went to a christmas party during the wait time and I think I tiptoed in my heels that night of the party because I had heard miss about pregnant women miscarrying from walking around in high heel shoes.
(02:29):
I was a nervous happy mess.
And I also remember getting ready that night for the party and thinking to myself,
oh my wow!
I really might be pregnant.
Well the day finally came and I went to my appointment.
My husband and I arrived at the doctor's office and while I made my way to the bathroom to take your analysis test,
(02:55):
I asked the nurse if she would walk my husband back to the exam room so that we could get the news together.
I finished up and made my way back to the exam room to sit with my husband to wait for the results and we won't see that more than a few minutes before the nurse popped back into the room with the biggest smile on her face and she shared the news with me like a girlfriend,
(03:19):
would you're pregnant?
You're pregnant And my whole world just lit up immediately.
My husband pulled out his cellphone and captured that joy and as he was taking the picture,
I could see um,
the relief and excitement on his face as well because this would also be his first child.
(03:40):
Well,
we left the doctor's office to head home and on the drive home.
That's when the proclamations begin.
I just began to recite,
I am going to eat right,
I'm going to exercise every day.
I'm going to to rest when I need to and I'm going to pray over my baby every day.
(04:03):
My amen corner,
which is my husband was agreeing as well.
While he was throwing in a few of his own proclamations,
we were so overjoyed at the news and my husband wanted to pick up the phone and call everyone that he knew and tell them the wonderful news that we had just found out.
(04:24):
But I asked him to keep the news quiet until I got up into the months because there was still that little bit of worry in the back of my mind.
As we continued driving home,
a sweet silence crept into the car and a thought came to my mind and took me back to a memory of when I was 14 years old attending a church service in our own living room.
(04:50):
My mother,
a woman who had a servant's heart would allow local pastors around the city to use our home to launch their ministries when they couldn't afford a building.
Well one particular sunday,
a local pastor who was using our home to hold his ministry services,
called me up to the front at the end of the service.
(05:11):
He leaned over and asked my mom if it was okay for him to pray for me.
Seeing that I was such a young woman and he was an older gentleman and ministry.
Normally,
male pastors have a female elder accompany them or stand beside them when they're ministering to young women in the church,
especially young women,
(05:31):
but there wasn't a female available this particular day.
So my mother filled in.
She allowed him to pray for me While she looked on from a few feet across the room,
the pastor began to pray for me.
He prayed that I would experience success in my educational and employment endeavors.
He also prayed that I would have discernment when choosing friends and relationships as well as some other things.
(05:59):
I listened attentively as he prayed over me.
But what I focused my attention on the most was when he began to pray for my health,
he prayed that God would heal whatever feminine health issues were plaguing me.
My mom and I were a little confused by this part considering I was a healthy,
(06:19):
physically active teen with no adverse health conditions at the time.
However,
it sounded like a good prayer.
So we went along with it.
I know now looking back that God was showing him something down the line,
he went on to prophesy some other things to me,
but he also reassured me in that same prophecy that everything would be okay now.
(06:46):
Fast forward 18 years and having gone through years of reproductive struggles as a young girl,
I was sitting in the chair at my doctor's office filled with a belly full of miracle,
remembering that moment on the ride home in the car reminds me of another amazing moment in the word of God.
When Jeremiah wrote what I consider a love letter on behalf of God to the Children of Israel being held captive in Babylon In Jeremiah 29,
(07:18):
the Children of Israel had turned their backs on God and as a result of their rebellion,
they were captured by Nebuchadnezzar and sentenced to 70 years of captivity in Babylon,
Nebuchadnezzar and his armies laid siege to Jerusalem for over a year,
leaving it in ruins and destroying the temple.
(07:41):
Now,
while the Children of Israel were being held in captivity,
receiving the reward of their rebellion.
God did not forget about them and he never stopped loving them.
He had a plan for their redemption set in place way before their captivity.
God spoke to the prophet Jeremiah and he told him to write to the Children of Israel and in that letter that Jeremiah wrote,
(08:08):
God told his Children that he wanted them to live in peace.
They were in captivity when Jeremiah wrote this letter to them.
But in the letter,
God tells them he wants them to live in peace.
He said to them build houses and live in them.
Plant gardens and eat the fruit thereof.
(08:30):
Then get married and have babies so that your lineage lives on.
After God tells the Children of Israel.
His desire for them is to live in peace.
He then reminds them that he is still the promise keeper.
He says to them,
for I know the thoughts that I think toward you,
(08:51):
thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end.
I love the way the new international version says it.
It says for I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
Plans to give you hope and a future.
(09:12):
We can hold on to that same promise today.
My teenage reproductive issues weren't to result in my rebellion against God.
But God knew that I would experience them and as a result I faced the possibility of infertility.
However,
like the Children of Israel,
God sent me a word through his servant.
(09:34):
The apostle who laid hands on me,
prayed for me and gave me a word from the Lord regarding my future.
God wanted me to have peace in advance knowing that while I may go through a season of discomfort and concern about my health,
my future was bright and part of my worth as a woman would not fail,
(09:56):
he had good plans for me.
Listen,
you may be going through a period right now where you feel like you're being held captive by the trials and tribulations of this life.
You can rest assured that it's just a season,
find peace in knowing that you can make plans for the future.
Although you're right now looks hopeless.
(10:18):
God's thoughts towards you are good and his plans are to ensure that you complete your purpose on this side of heaven.
I've had three babies and I am a living testament to God.
Having the final say after The facts.
Speak volumes regardless of what you're going through right now in this life and in this season,
(10:43):
know this God always has the final say.
Thank you for listening.
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