Prayers and Reflections for the Two-Week Wait as Orthodox Christians
Prayers and Reflections for the Two-Week Wait as Orthodox Christians
For anyone intimate with their husband during their fertile window, you know the wait for your cycle can feel agonizing. Whether you are hoping to be pregnant or not, the two-week wait can bring up new emotions and worries you may not have had before.
Today, I want to explore how to manage these two weeks with grace and trust in God’s perfect plan. As a mom to almost 5, I’ve experienced this wait many, many times over the last 11 and a half years of marriage. Some are easier than others, but all come with lessons to be learned. And I can’t even count the number of women I’ve talked to who share their worries and anxieties with me about this time.
I pray this article brings you comfort amidst the wait. May it be blessed!
What Is the Two-Week Wait?
The two-week wait is the time period between ovulation and your next menstrual cycle. Ovulation is the only time in a woman’s menstrual cycle that she can conceive so, if you’re intimate during your fertile window, you may conceive.
Whether you’re hoping for a baby or not, this time can come with anxiety and worry. We all try to control our lives and what is more nerve-wracking than the thought of a baby? Especially if you’ve been praying for a baby for a while, the wait can become agonizing. But, this wait doesn’t have to be a separation from God but a chance to find deeper trust and joy in The Giver of Life.
Leaning Into The Wait
I will try not to downplay just how hard these two weeks can be. It may be even longer for women who choose not to take a pregnancy test and rely solely on their biology to determine whether they are pregnant or not. And it may be shorter for women who choose early-response pregnancy tests. I have done both with different pregnancies. So I can truly see both sides of the coin.
Leaning into the wait isn’t a flippant decision. It takes effort to reject thoughts of anxiety and place your every thought and prayer at the Lord’s feet. This is one of the few times in your life that you can lean into the wait as the Disciples did in the upper room. They were waiting after Christ's ascension for the promised Comforter, and in that wait, they chose not to lean into their anxieties but trust in the Messiah's promise, “Behold, I will send my comforter upon you.” John 14:16
St. Sophrony of Essex writes on these waiting periods in a Christian’s life as pivotal moments with God and our walk of faith.
“They [the apostles] were left alone, and so they prayed together, patiently waiting the other Comforter Whom the Lord had promised. The first Comforter had been the Lord Himself; He had continually comforted them with His word. But the experience of a certain forsakenness, impoverishment, and loneliness was necessary, so that a thirst for the Living Water of Pentecost would arise in their hearts.” Remember Thy First Love, pg. 50
We all face moments like this. Where we don’t feel God’s presence or we wonder how He will ever ease the ache in our hearts. And clearly, it’s a gift! If we choose to see it that way. As Orthodox Christians we are taught to “pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and to “cast your anxieties on the Lord” 1 Peter 5:7. This isn’t easy but it is the work of the Christian.
So, rather than wishing this period away or spending your energy on analyzing every possible pregnancy symptom, try to release that control and lean on Scripture, prayers, and time with God.
Scripture Verses to Meditate on During the Two-Week Wait
These verses are applicable throughout our lives but I find them particularly comforting for times of increased anxiety.
Psalm 94:19: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication… the peace of God… will guard your hearts and minds.”
Matthew 6:34: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.”
1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid
Joshua 1:9: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
There are many other verses! You should also talk to your spiritual father for guidance on which verses he recommends for waiting periods. You can also simply ask the Lord in your daily prayers to help you find the right scripture verse for you.
Orthodox Christian Prayers for the Two-Week Wait
As Orthodox Christian’s, we are blessed with the ancient wisdom and writings of the Church. This means, we have access to prayers that are beautiful, deeply spiritual, and aid in in attaining new heights in our spiritual life. So, if you feel called to the following prayers, add them into your prayer rule during the two-week wait.
Prayer for the Acceptance of God’s Will by St. Philaret of Moscow
O Lord, I know not what to ask of thee. Thou alone knowest what my true needs are. Thou lovest me more than I myself know how to love. Help me to see my real needs which are concealed from me. I dare not ask for either a cross or a consolation. I can only wait on thee. My heart is open to thee. Visit and help me for thy great mercy’s sake. Strike me and heal me, cast me down and raise me up. I worship in silence thy holy will and thine inscrutable ways. I offer myself as a sacrifice to thee. I put all my trust in thee. I have no other desire than to fulfill thy will. Teach me how to pray. Pray thou thyself within me. Amen.
Prayer for Times of Trouble
O God, You are our help and assistance, who is just and merciful, and who hears the supplications of Your people; look down upon me, a sinner, have mercy upon me, and deliver me from this trouble that besets me.
I acknowledge and believe, O Lord, that all trials of this life are given by You for our chastisement when we drift away from You and disobey Your commandments; deal not with me after my sins, but according to Your bountiful mercy, for I am the work of Your hands, and You know my weakness.
Grant me, I beseech You, Your divine helping grace, and endow me with patience and strength to endure my tribulations with complete submission to Your Will.
You know my misery and suffering and to You, my only hope and refuge, I flee for relief and comfort; trusting to Your infinite love and compassion, that in due time, when You know best, You will deliver me from this trouble, and turn my distress into comfort, when I shall rejoice in Your mercy, and exalt and praise Your Holy Name, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
A Prayer for Stillness in the Midst of Anxiety
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God,
I come before You with a heart that trembles and a mind that will not rest. Fear rises like a tide, and I feel lost in a sea of worry. My thoughts scatter, my breath shortens, and peace feels far from me. But I know, O Lord, that You are not far. You are near to the brokenhearted and close to those who call on You in truth.
Calm the storm within me. Still the waters of my soul. Let the breath of Your Spirit flow through me like a gentle wind, quieting every wave of fear. Teach me to sit in silence before You, not seeking answers but seeking You. Let Your name, sweet and holy, be the anchor of my heart. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
I surrender the illusion of control. I release the weight of imagined outcomes. Help me to live in this present moment, in the now, where You dwell. Let Your light pierce through the fog of anxiety, revealing that I am not alone and never have been.
Blessed Theotokos, Mother of God, pray for me. Saints of God, who walked through suffering into joy, intercede for my weary soul. Grant me the peace that passes understanding, not because all is fixed, but because all is held in Your hands.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
As beautiful as these prayers are, never underestimate the power of heart prayers. Namely, the Jesus Prayer — Lord Jesus Christ Son of God Have mercy on me a sinner — but also the deep heartfelt prayers of your soul.
God is close to the weary and brokenhearted. If all you can say is, “I need help.” But it’s said with contrition and humility, God hears your prayers.
The Two-Week Wait as Orthodox Christians Can Be a Time of Drawing Closer to Christ
Finally, I want to leave you with the important reminder of always giving thanks to God. For whatever your situation is, give thanks. Of course, this can be the hardest thing in the world when faced with challenges and unknowns, but giving thanks brings God and his perfect plan to the center of our lives.
Psalm 93(94):19 states, “In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul.” Let His comforts delight your soul and help you find peace in this time of waiting.
If you found this article helpful, I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments. And as always, share this article with any friends or family who may benefit from it.
