From Barrenness To Fruitfulness

"We will this year gather celestial fruits on earthly ground, where faith and hope have made the desert like the garden of the Lord."
                                                                                                                               Charles Spurgeon




For many believers, this past year has been one of many difficulties and trials. As the stress and pressures have increased around us, it as become more obvious which places in our lives are the weakest and have the most vulnerabilities. It is quite likely that discouragement has knocked on the door of your heart, especially when you survey the barren desert places that God is shining His light upon.

If we only focus on what we see in the natural, it may seem reasonable to throw up our hands in frustration, or even despair. And yet, God never created us to only view things from a natural perspective. One of the reasons Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to earth was to help us see the supernatural things in the earth that He is doing.

Believe it or not, there is beauty even in the barrenness. The most beautiful thing about barrenness is that it becomes the backdrop for God's fruit-creating power. Even the most desolate things can become a setting to showcase God's extravagant love. As we take an inventory of our needs, it drives us deeper in our pursuit of Jesus. This is the only place where fruit can be found.

When we identify any area of barrenness, it is important to rise up in faith against it. God's very existence is life and abundant life at that. Therefore, as His children, He expects that our lives reflect that as well. The only way they will do that is through our connection to Him. Only He can cause eternal fruit in our lives to grow.

The type of fruit that God causes to grow is solely up to Him. It will always begin as a work inside of us before it is ever manifested externally. We can try to produce our own fruit by tying on good works to our lives, but they will never be sustained. It is God's workmanship, and it is for His glory alone.

Because of my background professionally as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, when I think of barrenness the first thing that comes to mind is infertility. Interestingly, the Bible showcases nine women who were unable to conceive a child. They are: Sarah, Abimelech's wife, Rebekah, Rachel, Manoah"s wife, Hannah, Michal, the Shunammite woman, and Elizabeth.

All of these women lived in a time where barrenness was not only painful, but there was also a stigma attached to it. They most likely felt deficient or unworthy. To make matters even worse, most of them probably also understood that God was quite able to open their wombs (Deuteronomy 7:14) and that if He did not, there were no other options. They did not have the benefit of modern technology. There was no: Clomid, Injectable FSH and LH, Inseminations, or In Vitro. Future hope grinded to a halt!

They felt stuck in their sorrow, and yet, God had a much bigger plan for their lives. While He understood the depth of their pain, He wanted to bring forth the harvest that would result in His best for their lives. He allowed their barrenness to drive them closer to His heart.

Out of all these women, Michal was the only one who remained barren until the day she died (2 Samuel 6:23). Unfortunately, she had allowed bitterness and resentment to rob her of all the blessings that should have been hers. Instead of drawing closer to God in her time of need, she withdrew and mocked the Only One who could help her.

She had been given everything any woman of that time would have desired. As King Saul's daughter, she was born a princess that would grow up to become the wife of a king. She was a queen of royal descent but that wasn't enough.

One day as she peered out the window of her castle, she saw her husband, David, dancing in the streets and praising God. He was bringing the ark of the Lord into the city of David, and he was ecstatic. So ecstatic, in fact, that he had not bothered to wear his clothing.

The Bible tells us that when Michal "looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord [that] she despised him in her heart" (2 Samuel 6:16). Instead of joining the celebration with her husband, she chose to reject him and the blessing he bestowed. As a result, she missed out on the blessing God had apportioned for her life.

She didn't stop there, however. She went on to verbally assault King David because he was so joyful. She said to him, "How glorious was the king of Israel today, who stripped himself of his kingly robes and uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of the worthless fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!" (2 Samuel 6:20). The bitterness of her own feelings of worthlessness were promptly projected onto her husband, which positioned her against the man of God. Not the right move!

There is a vast difference in barrenness as a part of our journey versus barrenness at the end of our lives. All of us will have seasons when one aspect or another of our lives feels very barren. It can be: in our professions, our marriages, with unsaved loved ones, in our finances, in our health, in our ministry, and in countless other areas.

The important thing is to not give up hope or grow stagnant in our faith. Oftentimes, the very area that is the most barren will reap the greatest harvest. Remember the other eight barren women? Some of their miracles included: Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Samuel, and John the Baptist! God would ultimately use each of these men for mighty purposes in His kingdom.

In order for us to move from barrenness to  fruitfulness, we have to remember that He is the Vine and He is the Vinedresser. It is incumbent upon Him to choose the fruit in our lives and to cause them to grow. Our responsibility is to stay connected to Him, pure in our hearts, and submitted to His pruning, cultivation, and timing. He is faithful and He will turn our barrenness into a fruitful plain!


"I have told you these things that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing."
                                                                                                                                        John 15:11