God Can Be Trusted

Taking a fun train ride with Daddy at the zoo. This picture reminds me that my family can go forward confidently with God . . . no matter what the future may bring, we can trust our Conductor.

It is pleasant to have the sun warming me through my winter window this morning. My heart feels cold after another miscarriage, and I grieve the loss of my child. Little did I guess last week, when I posted memories of our Jewel, that the life of the newest member of our family would be so short. Psalm 127:3 clashed head on with Job 1:20-22:

“Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, the fruit of the womb is His reward.” Psalm 127:3

“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshipped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” Job 1:20-22

This morning as I tried to get breakfast around, moving my tired aching body, my tears welled up not from chopping the onions, but from my sorrow – my child has died.

While I know this is true … there will be no need to pull out the maternity clothes, no exciting birth announcements, and no need to put “Baby Coming!” on my calendar for October … I also remind myself that his/her death is only part of the story. Our little Jade wasn’t allowed to sit in the baby swing, coo, receive hugs and kissies, say “Mama” or “Daddy,” eat a blueberry pancake, or have his or her toes tickled. These were my hope, but God had something better in mind for Jade. And he/she is very much alive!

Centuries ago, when King David grieved the death of his child, God revealed to him that he would get to see his child again in the future:

“I will go to him but he will not return to me.”

2 Samuel 12:23

My child was and is a real person, designed by God, known by God, with a divine purpose for his/her life:

“For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your words, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I as made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.” Psalm 139:13-18

Someone innocently asked me, “How old was Jade?” With complete appreciation for their good intentions, it simply doesn’t matter how far along I was, nor how old Jade was when he/she died. Jade was alive, inside me. Then Jade died, inside me. Death of a loved one is always painful … there is never enough time.

In my mind I had already planned where the baby bed would be, pictured my boys’ excitement in meeting a little sibling, and was seriously thinking through names. I wondered what Jade would look like and could envision a future of getting to know this person as they grew up, praying and trusting that he/she would grow up to love and serve God. I’m trying to thankfully reflect on the brief time we had together. Just a little while to treasure my special secret … to dream … to prayerfully dedicate this child inside me to God.

Even though God saw fit to take Jade home, it doesn’t mean I can’t trust Him. God knows all and can see everything. In comparison I’m like a blind ant scurrying around, unable to see the rock 10″ ahead of me. This God Who knows how small I am, lovingly calls me His own. He knows my grief. He promises never to leave me – He is holding me. When I am at the point of not being able to pray, utterly weighed down by sadness, He is working behind the scenes to bring the answer to my needs. He reaches out to me with . . .

His Word

Himself
My husband Tim
Caleb & Joshua (my children on earth)
Friends
Family …
and beauty in unexpected places

God has provided! One friend, not knowing why I wasn’t feeling well, suspected, and brought me a beautiful bouquet of flowers. They have been a balm to my spirit. A close friend brought a meal and took the boys for a couple hours. A precious neighbor helped in various amazing ways, providing the support we needed at just the right moment. Our pastor and his wife got on their knees to pray for us, asking how they can help. My sister took our boys for a couple of days so we can rest and have time to grieve. Friends and family have prayed and offered suppport. They have rejoiced with us and grieved with us about Jade.

I’m not sharing my heart with you so you can feel sorry for me. Please don’t! I want you to know that we have a beautiful child in Heaven named Jade. And far more importantly, I want you to know GOD CAN BE TRUSTED. We can have joy in our hearts, and we can smile through our tears, because God is real! Whether God gives you a husband or not. Whether He gives you children or not. No matter what the diagnosis, no matter how many lost dreams you experience, nothing changes Who God is. And Jeremiah 29:11 is still in the Bible.

It’s okay to grieve. He can help me through. He has a plan. He will not waste this. There is hope! And someday, I will look into the eyes of Jesus, and He will introduce me to my beautiful treasures – Jewel, Gem and Jade … who by God’s grace never experienced the pain of this earth – only the beauty of God in His home. I was never able to tell them about Jesus, but the first One they ever met was Jesus. I am a very blessed mother of five. May all my children bring Him glory, there and here.

Suggested resource for those suffering a loss of a child before or after birth: Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg

February 12, 2012October 21, 2014 by Sara Categories: Loss, Marriage, Miscarriage, Parenting, Single Women 11 Comments

11 thoughts on “God Can Be Trusted”

Princes Diaz, I am so sorry for your loss. I am praying for God's comfort to surround you!! Love, Sara

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Sorry for you loss Sara I know how you feel cause at this moment to me happen sames as you I loss my baby I was 5 months is to hard talk about it is alot pain in our hearts

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Thank you, KS! And Mamabekaboo! I'm praying for you with your recent loss. There is something so special about looking forward to meeting our children someday. We will recognize them, I have no doubt. Yes, I agree. Jewel might be a big burly guy 😉 or maybe a beautiful woman with flowing hair. I don't care – they will all be beautiful to me, as I'm sure they will be to you. Thank you for your love and prayers! Praying for you today …

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My heart was sad to know that you lost your baby, but was happy to know that you like me know where s/he is at right now. I have four children that I have never met due to miscarriage. We do know that the last one (November 2011) was a girl. We have named all of our children because we don't want them walking around Heaven without a name. I always say that someday we will find out that our Josephine was actually a Joseph. Thank you so much for such a sweet entry. May God bless you in the next few weeks as you give this heartache to him fully. Because He Lives, BK

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PS If you want to get out some day this week, we could meet at the mall, go to corn fusion and let the kids play in germ-land for a while. Just let me know.

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I am sad for you. I know how hard it is. Here is a song that was part of my healing. She actually wrote it for a woman who had a stillbirth very late in her pregnancy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4ksqykqet0

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Thank you for praising God with me for His very real comfort! God is the one building my faith – on my own I'm a sniveling idiot. 🙂 I'm so very very thankful if something I shared encourages you in your faith in God. It greatly helps the sorrow take shape and meaning when I see God using it for good. Thank you for sharing about Harvest, Farmers Wyfe! We can pray for one another and point each other to God. 🙂

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I'm sorry for the pain you are going through. It is immense comfort, knowing that God knows all and does what He knows is best, but I know that hollow feeling of pain in your heart. I lost my first to miscarriage, right around this exact time. My mother had said, “Oh, it's wonderful you'll have your baby in the fall around harvest time so your husband (who was farming for a living) will have the slower winter days to be with the baby.” When our baby died, I named it “Harvest.” My oldest daughter says she looks forward to meeting her older sibling in heaven someday. Praying for you.

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Dear one,
Thank you for sharing your story my dear sister in the Lord. It fills my heart with hope and tears. And though I have not the same experience I share your confidence that Our loving Heavenly Father is able to be trusted in all our trials and sorrows. I lift you up in prayer and know that He will carry you through.
In Christ's love,
A friend in His family
Psalm 91

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Oh, Sara! I'm so sorry for your loss! Thank you for sharing your sorrow with us . . . but also your deep faith and trust in the Lord. He alone can give perfect peace and joy. Praying for you friend as you grieve and so thankful for those around you who are able to help you during this very difficult time.

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