Hope

I opened my front door this week to a devastating sight. A young couple that my husband and I had ministered to on many occasions was standing there completely distraught. I could see it immediately. Their faces were heavy with pain and it scared me. I just said, “what?!...what?!”

Then she fell into my arms and told me that she had lost her baby at 22 weeks in her pregnancy. They came in and we spent some time talking and praying.

The first question we all ask at times like this is “why?” I truly don’t know “why.” Aside from the fact that we live in a fallen world with pain and heartache, I can’t answer this question. We may never know why.

I told them not to hold back the tears though, I told them to let themselves grieve, they had lost a son. Grieving is a necessary and healthy part of life and death.

1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while
you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
7 These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire-
may be proved genuine and may result in praise,
glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
NIV

But, I encouraged them to grieve with hope.
The Greek word in the New Testament for hope is the “expectation of good.”

It does not mean that we are feeling good at the time, but that we have the expectation that God will bring about good in our lives.

In the Old Testament in means words like safety, trust, security and refuge.
We don’t understand all the trials and heartache, but the Lord promises to walk with us through every one.

I can say with surety that every trial and every bit of grief I have felt has drawn me closer to His heart. I desperately need Him in times of pain and He has never failed to bring me comfort.

As she fell sobbing into my arms for comfort, I know that the Lord also had His arms wrapped around her. He is the one who will heal this pain. They will never forget this, but the sting of pain will subside.

I don’t patronize anyone by saying that I know how it feels to lose a child. I can’t even imagine. But I have known pain, and I know that our God is the one that promises to heal our broken hearts. Time may help, but only God can heal.

Ps 34:18
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those who are crushed in spirit.
NLT

I know that many of you have lost dear children and I pray that you walk in healing and hope.

Lord, I pray that you would hold close every mother and father that has lost a child. Let them sense Your loving arms wrapped around them. Let them be at peace throughout their day and as they lie down in the evening to rest. Oh Father, bring hope to the hurting arms of the mother who longs for a child. For the ones they have lost and the ones they have hoped to hold.
In the precious Name of Jesus,
Amen