Horrible! To desire something with your whole heart and to not ever be able to have it, is comparable to having something and having it taken away prematurely; only in this situation they don't even have the joy of ever having it, even for a short time.
2. Why do your suppose people often relate barrenness to sinfulness?
I think many people buy into the lie, that God is just waiting for us to mess up, so that He can bring His punishment down on us, like a strike of lightening or something. So when they hear the news from the doctor that for one reason or another they will not be able to have children, they immediately assume that God is punishing them for past mistakes, or sin.
A quick word for those who are dealing with this heart wrenching news...God Loves you and He has great plans for you. God is not sitting on His high throne just waiting for an opportunity to crack his whip! He is walking with you, He is loving you and making sure that you get what is best for you now and in the future. God sees the big picture and someday, you will look back and say, "Oh Lord, I had no idea that you were going to bring this about in my life...this is far greater than I could have ever imagined." You are a child of God, and all you have to do is trust Him and walk close to Him, follow His leading and expect Him to do great things in you and through you!
3. How can you invest yourself in rearing spiritual children?
"Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" (John 4:35)
I don't own a farm, nor have I ever spent much time on a farm...but I know what it means for the fields to be white for harvest. All we have to do is open our eyes and look. God is preparing hearts and opening doors, we just have to be obedient. When He leads us to reach out...whether in a big way or a small way, we must be obedient and follow God's leading. It is then that we will reap the harvest (aka: rear spiritual children).
