Miscarriage

The Bible tells the extraordinary story of God’s watching His only Son die on the cross. God is well acquainted with the sorrow of losing a child, and He is near to those who are brokenhearted. I felt His nearness when I suffered a miscarriage after our third child. My heart ached as I waited to hear our baby’s heartbeat one more time—but there was nothing. It took some time, but together, Jay and I grieved the loss of our precious little one. The pain of miscarriage is real, but so is the healing power of Jesus. As our family grieved our loss, the nearness of God became more real to me than it had ever been. This is the heart of our Savior—he weeps when we weep.

Even young people can intuitively understand the heartbreak of a miscarriage through the simple act of watching someone fold up dreams and place them in a box. A friend’s daughter was a theater major, and one of her assignments in college was to write and perform an original monologue for her class. She chose to play the role of a young woman who had experienced a miscarriage. As she spoke about her broken dreams, she carefully and meticulously folded up a pile of newborn baby clothes, gently placing them in a cardboard box and taping it shut. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.

Thank God we have someone to go to who is familiar with the grief of losing a child. Whether you are in pain right now, or you are carrying a friend to the feet of the Healer, be encouraged. In Him we find comfort and hope. He understands our sorrow.

WHEN YOUR BROKEN MOTHER-HEART IS DESPERATE TO KNOW HE CARES . . .

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

You keep track of all my sorrows.

You have collected all my tears in your bottle.

You have recorded each one in your book.

WHEN YOU NEED PEACE . . .

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

WHEN YOU’RE READY TO TALK ABOUT IT . . .

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

WHEN IT’S TIME TO SAY “I TRUST YOU STILL” . . .

The LORD gave me what I had,

and the LORD has taken it away.

Praise the name of the LORD!