MEET JENNIFER HASTY!
Listen to Week 1 of Be Missional and Build – INTRO by clicking here!
Listen to Week 2 of Be Missional and Build – MEET PAM ELMORE by clicking here!
Listen to Week 3 of Be Missional and Build – MEET KEZIA McNAB by clicking here!
Jennifer is lucky enough to live in Charleston, South Carolina with her studly husband, Josh and their dog, Penny. She writes about a newlywed’s views on just about everything at her blog, www.jenniferhasty.blogspot.com.
Before we go any further, I would like to offer up a disclaimer right now: I am writing this in the midst of going through In-Vitro Fertilization (which is pertinent, I promise!) and my hormones are conducting an epic battle in my brain. I apologize for any crazy ramblings.
Going on…
My name is Jennifer Hasty, and I have the unbelievable pleasure of being Amber Miller’s best friend. We have known each other since we were freshmen at Mars Hill College (now University.) She is the coolest, kindest lady I know, and I am so blessed to hear her weekly on Be Still Be Free.
I wanted to talk about the Mission I feel called to every day. Thankfully, it’s not traipsing to the Amazon Jungle, sleeping with a mosquito net. I do not have the stamina for long distance hiking, and I can only go so long without indoor plumbing. God does have a sense of humor, though, so don’t count that out! I used to think that the only people on a “mission” were ones overseas, living with villagers, telling people about Christ. I have an immense respect for the people who do that; being completely obedient to God to make a new life somewhere new.
However, it has been through our massive struggle and pain that I have found where I am being led. My husband, Josh, and I have been married over 4 years, and have struggled with infertility for 3.5 of those years. We have just completed our first IVF, and fourth procedure overall. I have given myself over 100 shots in the stomach, taking an unbelievable amount of vitamins and other pills, and completely wiped out our emergency savings.
First, I have been called to minister to my sweet husband. I do not sit him down and preach at him, though sometimes he may think that I do. Marriage is a beautiful representation of our relationship with Christ, and I know that it’s so easy to lose sight of that. My husband eventually turned into my business partner, roommate, and household co-manager. However, I read Isaiah 54:5, which said:
“For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”
I felt a huge conviction to love Josh the way God loves me. It’s like I took this precious person, this gift, for granted. What better way to interact with God’s love than by seeing it in your spouse every morning? I have made it my mission to show patience and mercy, and he does the same. It has really been important to practice this while we are on this journey. He now helps administer my shots, and has gone to every doctor’s appointment I have been to (there are a few per week. It gets old pretty fast.)
I am reminded of 1 John 4:7, which says,
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”
What a great mission for your spouse, and it literally starts in your house. Rhyming aside, I felt that I didn’t have the capacity to be a great witness if my home life wasn’t reflecting the love of Christ.
Secondly, I have stumbled into a mission by just being vulnerable about our issues. I got so heartbroken on Facebook and other sites, scrolling past countless pregnancy announcements and baby pictures. I even thought how much better I would feel if, in the midst of all of those, someone announced that they were infertile. Just like that, a lady proclaiming that she can’t have a baby naturally.
So, I just decided to do it myself. I wrote a whole blog post called, “No Bun in the Oven.” I was totally honest about all the weird, gross, stuff you have to do with fertility treatments, and how unbearably painful it is when it doesn’t work. I also talk about God’s love and promises for this baby. Surprisingly, so many people I knew came out of nowhere and told me about their experiences. Now, women I know starting their journeys have told me that they were comforted, knowing that they aren’t alone.
If you are in that category, talking openly about being barren is not for everyone. I get that. But it’s amazing how God can take your hurt and brokenness, and use it in a way to bless someone else’s life. When we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, He allows others to see His strength through our weaknesses. Whether it’s talking about other forms of grief, depression, job loss, our experiences can tell other people that they are not alone.
Our missions can look different, depending on each person. We can’t discount the things we are called to do, because we aren’t actually missionaries. On a mission trip. That’s one of the beautiful things about the body of Christ. All of our gifts, will bless the kingdom!
“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.” 1 Corinthians 12:4
Does God have you on a mission you’ve kept quiet and hidden? Do you think He might be leading you to open up a bit and share your experiences so others might benefit? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Looking for a new small group study? Check out the Be Together Small Group Bible Study on Be Loved and Live. It includes deeper levels of understanding how God wants us to truly love, honest discussion and practical application. Get your copy today!
