Normally, I don't put a post together unless I have time to research the Scriptures and organize my thoughts. This is why I post only once every three months typically, because a one page post takes like three hours to do. What can I say, I blog like I preach... hours of work for a quick delivery.
Anyway, my wife and I have begun a trying time in our lives and I wanted to offer some hope and understanding to others based on the beliefs and values we hold in our understanding of God's word. You see, we were expecting our fourth child, until last Wednesday when my wife suffered a miscarriage. There are so many things that people try to bombard you with when you are grieving, but it has been our faith and our love for each other that has been our comfort in this time. In regards to our faith:
1. We believe that we will see our baby again some day. It was David that mourned over the child he had with Bathsheba until the child died. After the child died, David expressed that he could do no more for the child in this world, and he could only hope to see him in the next. We believe that life begins at conception. This is why we don't agree with abortion and why we grieve the loss of our baby (not our fetus). We also believe that those who are not able to understand the message of the Scriptures are not held accountable to their truths (this is known as the Age of Accountability). These precious little ones were ones that Jesus died for, and we believe in his merciful love. Paul in Romans supports this belief by expressing that God condemns those who have the ability to perceive God's existence but deny it. What baby is capable of such a thought?
2. We have three other blessings of God. This recent loss and the bonding that our family has felt (yes our children had their time of grief too) has shown us the power of God's love to carry us through difficult times. Children are a blessing, and we were overjoyed at the prospect of adding another one, now we are comforted at knowing that He has our little one, and we still have the rest of ours.
3. This happened because we live in a fallen/sinful world. We did not commit a major sin or blasphemy to bring this about, although we still struggle with sins in our lives. Also, God did not "take our baby" to teach us a lesson, nor was this in any way a direct result of His will and activity in our lives. God's plans are intended to prosper us (As he tells Jeremiah) and children are a blessing from Him. He views each person as a special creative act (Psalm 139, Jeremiah) and does not intend suffering and pain for His beloved children. There is no need to understand why it happened (unless it becomes a recurring medical issue) because God will work in us and through us for our greatest good from this unfortunate circumstance. God was in control of the whole situation and gave us peace and comfort. He did not, however, micromanage the affair.
4. And finally, God's love is not compromised because this "bad thing" happened to us. God allowed such a thing to happen because He loves everybody. He does not protect his children from bad things unless that bad thing is bad for them. Otherwise, He lets the rain fall where it will on good or bad, and He makes Himself available to comfort and bless His children who must go through the trying times. Trials in life will make us stronger in our faith, if we let the comforting presences of our Lord draw near to us. For my wife and me, this has been a time of His amazing presence. I personally, have felt a peace in my life that truly surpasses human understanding. In all truth, God's love is more clear and real to me now than it has been at any other time.
The loss of our baby has been a deep tragedy. We have mourned and we woke up this morning and we worshiped God. Life moves always forward to that day when Christ will return for His followers. In that day, we will be fulfilled in the hope that we have of our lost little one. Until that day, we press on... because we can through Him (Phil 3:14, 4:13).
Thanks for listening,
Pastor Ryan
