This post is a chapter from the book, Hope in the Loss of a Baby: A Deeper Dive into what the Bible says about Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death, which is the culmination of much study, counseling, and sermons shared over twenty years. Since this book was meant to bless the church I am also making it available on this blog.
The crucifixion was the painful birth-pang of the world's salvation. The sorrow of the cross was the necessary prelude to the joy of the resurrection. ~ J. C. Ryle
Beloved, thank you for taking this deeper dive into the
scriptures with me as we looked at the hard topic of babies who die. I hope God
has spoken to you through his Word and drawn you closer to him.
Babies who suffer and die—and parents who grieve them—are
not incidental to this story. They are an integral part of God’s redemption
plan. God hates sin and death, and he has made a way to eradicate it from his
kingdom forever. As we understand the sinfulness of sin and the wickedness of
evil, I hope that you won’t despair of life itself, but trust in the God who is
even able to raise the dead. As evil as evil is, his goodness and grace are so
much better.
If you’re weeping, know that you’re not alone. Untold
numbers of mothers and fathers have wept with you. I’ve wept for you and prayed
for you during the writing of this book.
Like he did with Job, God is doing a mighty work behind the scenes
and in your heart. Like he did with Rachel, he is preparing to wipe away your
tears and prove that he is restoring all things. Like he did with Mary, he has
a purpose in your suffering and will use it to bring about life and hope as you
surrender to him. And like he did with David, he has a mission for you to
accomplish.
You are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who have
helped pave this path for you to walk. May God’s faithfulness to them and their
faithfulness to him prove that God makes a way when there seems to be no way.
And through it all, beloved, know that the one who opened
that way is walking alongside you. Know that he will never leave you or forsake
you, and that he is able to sympathize with you in your weaknesses because of
how he was tempted and how he suffered.
Son of Adam, Son of
heaven,
Given as a ransom,
Reconciling God and man,
Christ, our mighty champion!
What a Savior! What a Friend!
What a glorious myst’ry!
Once a babe in Bethlehem, now the Lord of history. ~ Keith
and Kristyn Getty, Joy Has Dawned
If you don’t know this King, this Christ, this Saviour, I
want to personally invite you to put your trust in him. Perhaps he has brought
you to this place through what you have suffered so that you can see his plan,
power, and love for you. The Psalmist said, “It is good for me that I was
afflicted, that I might learn your statutes” (Psalm 119:71). May you say like
many throughout history, “I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me on the
Rock of Ages.”
Even Paul uses the language of childbirth to point to your
most important relationship:
My little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! ~ Galatians 4:19
Has Christ been formed in you? If he has not, then seek him
today. If he lives in you, then adopt that same outlook to be in travail and
anguish for those who do not know Christ. It has been said that we have the
privilege of being the spiritual midwife in leading lost and dying sinners to
be born again. God knows the plans for you, and I’m sure as you’ve learned, there
is nothing easy about them, but he means all of them for your good, to give you
a hope and a future.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17
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