"None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord." Ezekiel 12:28 Written by Erin Boyce 7
When Cindy found out she was pregnant she couldn’t believe it – she actually didn’t believe it. Three pregnancy tests and a frantic “Call me right now!” text to her husband later, it started to sink in. After 8 years of trial and error, hope and heartbreak, God had blessed them with a miracle. This is their 8-year journey. Before Jeremy and Cindy Duffin moved to Calgary, a pastor prayed over them and told them something they weren’t expecting to hear – that they would experience difficulty having children. A young, happy couple, they didn’t dwell on it; they thought it was a little strange and didn’t think it would amount to anything. A few years later, after a year of trying to get pregnant, Cindy tragically lost her father, and to add to the heartbreak she had a miscarriage 7 months later. Unable to conceive again, they felt compelled to pursue treatment; “We wanted to ensure there would be no regrets later in life.” At the fertility clinic, Cindy and Jeremy were given a 2% chance of ever having a child. “Even though we were told we had a 2% chance of conceiving, I knew if God decided it was time we had a 100% chance.” Everything went perfectly with IVF and Cindy was told she now had a 75% chance of becoming pregnant – but it wasn’t time yet. “Just because God asks you to walk through a door doesn’t mean you are promised the answers or the solution you want on the other side,” Jeremy told me. God had led them through many “empty” doors and they faithfully followed every time, their faith growing stronger with each one. In the 8 th year Cindy had found her peace; through tears she recalled, “I had to grieve what I was losing and let every little piece of that dream go. You can’t be afraid of what you’re feeling. There’s a lot of grief and that’s something you have to acknowledge and deal with in a healthy way.” Through the help of their small group, good friends, and prayer, Jeremy and Cindy let go of the life they thought they would have, downsized to a smaller home, and focused on what God had already given them. “We are very blessed,” Cindy said. “Moving forward, that was something we focused on. He has given us everything and owes us nothing. This family is not owed to me.” When they accepted what they thought was God’s plan for their life, He opened up one final door and on the other side was a miracle. Their miracle was a healthy pregnancy. Joshua, their beautiful baby boy, was born in December 2016. When I asked Cindy if she could give one piece of advice to someone going through a similar situation, she answered immediately with two things: protect your marriage and talk to someone. What they went through can break a person and a marriage. “We both love to laugh,” Cindy smiled, and I can attest to this throughout the time I spent with them. “I think that’s one thing that really got us through this; we would always try to make each other laugh.” Cindy and Jeremy talked about how important community is. “You can’t keep everything in – it can be very isolating,” she started. “But be careful who you confide in, or you’ll be getting a lot of advice and ‘Have you tried this or that?’ which can be very discouraging.” They found a lot of their comfort from a close community of good friends – including their small group – who walked alongside them, supporting them in prayer and encouragement. Daryl, from their small group, was the first person they told they were pregnant. He shared with them how that morning he’d read from Ezekiel 12:28, “Therefore say to them, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: None of my words will be delayed any longer; whatever I say will be fulfilled, declares the Sovereign Lord.” He knew the verse was meant for someone else, so when Jeremy and Cindy knocked on his door and told him the news, he wasn’t surprised. Ezekiel 12:28 is part of the reason they named their son Joshua. Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land after many years wandering through the desert waiting for God’s promise, just like Jeremy and Cindy. Joshua also spent 7 days walking around Jericho, waiting for it to fall. The people of Jericho actually laughed at them, making fun of God’s promise, for it was taking so long no one believed it would fall. Joshua was faithful and kept marching, believing and trusting his God – just like Jeremy and Cindy. At their baby shower, a close friend wrote a speech. Here’s a piece of what she wrote that is so fitting to their journey: “The Bible is our ‘Adventure Guide.’ It reminds us that when we are lost to pray! ‘Lord, I call to You all day long. Bring joy to Your servant, Lord, I put my trust in You. You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to You. Hear my prayer, Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. When I am in distress, I call to You, because You answer me.’” Jeremy and Cindy never stopped calling to God. They believed He was good even when life was trying to tell them otherwise, and they knew God would answer. He gave them peace to accept they wouldn’t have a child – then He gave them Joshua. • 8
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