In the summer of 2016 we started trying to have a second child. Our son was approaching his second birthday and we both felt it was a good time to start making an addition to our family!
Claire had become pregnant with our first child relatively quickly and easily and we assumed that this would be the case once again. After more than a year of trying unsuccessfully, we were concerned and saddened and started planning what we could do to try and help us to conceive. We prayed about the issue frequently, both individually and together. Some close friends and family members were praying for us too. In 2018, having been referred to the specialist unit at University College Hospital in Coventry, we were both tested and examined for various things. Both of us were given a ‘clean bill of health’, which was both reassuring and frustrating!
Joe had some CBT counselling and by the Autumn Claire resigned from her job, which had become increasingly stressful. We both tried to follow a healthy diet and ensure that the general ‘busyness’ of life wasn’t getting in the way. In spite of all this, nothing happened. Each month followed an increasingly draining cycle of optimism, disappointment and acceptance. Life continued as normal and there were still many joys and blessings, but the absence of a second pregnancy was a sadness we felt often.
By 2019 we began trying to accept that we may not have another child but we continued to look after our general health and well-being and Claire had some acupuncture.
We attended a prayer appointment together at The Well in November. Individually, we had both been to The Well before and felt it would be good to go together this time. A man and lady prayed for us both and were incredibly understanding, perceptive and sensitive, as well as giving both of us godly words of wisdom and encouragement. They prayed God’s blessing on us individually, as a couple and as a family. Nothing dramatic happened but we both came away feeling greatly encouraged and with a sense of God’s peace.
On December 27th Claire took a pregnancy test. Having had so many disappointments over three and a half years we weren’t hopeful, but when the result appeared we were a little confused and felt the need to take two more. The results of all three were the same: positive!
When we went for our first scan on Valentine’s Day, the sonographer dated our pregnancy at 12 weeks and 4 days and we quickly realised that this was the exact date that we went to The Well!
God is good and wants to bless His people. And He undoubtedly uses The Well to do so. We thank God for this incredible resource here on our doorstep in Leamington Spa.
Please convey my thanks to the Team at The Well and particularly to S_ and R_ for their ministry as they prayed through the Beginnings Prayer with me. It is very difficult to put into words a summary of the whole experience. Tears of release and healing through to tears of joy as familiar scriptures actually became experiential and the sense of Father God’s presence with me right from the beginning of my life was really palpable! It was just awesome! And I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Beginnings Prayer.