Cycle 3 has begun.

My first ultrasound is scheduled for Thursday and I will have the first shot of this cycle on Friday.

A couple days ago, I was dreading the start of another cycle. This being round three, I know what is ahead of us. And it just isn’t a pleasant process.

When I began thinking about this process from start to finish, I got very overwhelmed. I don’t want to have to ask people to stick me with a needle daily. I hate that I have to ask people to do this for me but I just can’t stick myself with a needle. I don’t want to go to ultrasounds to find out if the drugs are doing their job. I don’t want to worry about semen collections. I don’t want to wonder if everything necessary for insemination day will be ready. I don’t want to go through another agonizing 2-week wait. And I never want to hear the words, “Sorry you’re not pregnant.” again.

Starting another cycle opens the door for any and all of this to happen once again. And even as I type these words, I know I cannot allow myself to think like this.

And so I think like this:

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

God makes all days. He’s made all my previous days and He will make all my days to come. That’s pretty amazing. But even more amazing is that He knows every little detail of every single day! And nothing, NOTHING, comes as a surprise to Him. Even August 4th? Yep. Even the day I found out cycle 2 was a failure. Didn’t surprise Him in the least bit. In fact, He even planned it that way.

So, this is the day the Lord has made. And fortunately this is the only day I have to deal with. Yesterday is yesterday. And tomorrow is tomorrow. Today is today. And today is all that needs to concern me. So there needs to be no worrying about the 2-week wait when today all I have to do is call the nurse to schedule the first ultrasound.

One day at a time. One piece of this process at a time.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

The last part of Psalm 118:24 is pretty amazing too! “… we will be glad and rejoice in it.” Did you notice that small word in? It changes everything. “We will be glad and rejoice in it.” In it – not after it. We don’t wait and rejoice once we are brought through the storm. No, we rejoice in the storm.

I don’t believe this means we are to throw a party in the midst of a storm in our life, put on a happy face and declare to the world that all is just fine! I believe the rejoicing we are to do is an acknowledgement that God is God and His ways are the best ways. It is knowing in your heart God cares. It is knowing God is at work. It is declaring your trust in a Sovereign God whose plans bring you hope.

And really when you set your heart on these things, you cannot help but feel the joy of the Lord radiate throughout your heart, mind and soul.

And you rejoice. You rejoice that you have HOPE. Hope found in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone.

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

- Elaine