I could see the fear and apprehension written so clearly on their faces when I went in the room to introduce myself. I tried to be encouraging as I asked questions concerning the pregnancy and assessed her condition. I too, had felt the same fear when I saw the blood present and began to pray silently that God, if it be his will, let this little one be carried full term.

My heart broke

This was not to be however. Several hours later, my heart broke when I saw the emergency light go off at the desk. Walking into the room, I learned the wife was going into labor and were about to lose their precious baby. I distinctly remember holding the patient tightly, rocking back and forth with her, tears falling down our cheeks. The sobs of her husband could be heard from the adjoining room. She was asked if she wanted to see the baby yet, and she declined.

The husband entered the small room and I knew it was time for me to leave. They needed to grieve alone. I helped the wife with her clothes and helped her back to bed. I cried all the way back to the nurse’s station.

The baby was a perfect little boy. He had everything he was supposed to have: ten tiny fingers and toes, small ears, nose and mouth. To me he appeared as if everything should have been fine. As I continued to look at him, I knew in that moment, that God had a better plan for this little guy than to suffer in this world this journey we call life. He would never have to know the heartache of losing a child, like his parents had. He would never have to suffer from a terminal illness or grow up in a world filled with temptations. He was where God wanted him to be, resting in the love and safety of God’s hand.

My hope holds on

I trust his parents will be reunited with him one day for eternity. That although they may not be with him in the present, that they will be together in the future. I hope that they too know of this perfect love from above. If not, I pray that they will discover it in this sorrowful step in their lives.

This experience, I am certain, changed them in ways they never wanted to be changed. I know this, because it changed me also. I saw the stark reality of losing a child and felt a small part of their loss. All I could do was cry. No words had been necessary and not one was spoken. Even when I returned later to check on them, silence, intermingled with quiet sobs, was all that echoed from the room.

This article is dedicated to all that have ever lost a child – whether it be one that was stillborn, or in life as they grew. God knows the tears you have shed and those that you will continue to shed. He has imprinted your hearts with a love that He too, knows very well; the love of a parent and the loss of losing a child. May He touch and comfort you with that same hand that holds your son or daughter in ways that only He can do.

Take the next step:
Unthinkable Loss: Miscarriage and Stillbirth
Starting over after a loss
Read the story of Ruth, a woman who lost a great deal and had to find the strength to start over.
Are you facing the loss of a child? We are here to talk.

Related:
Does God Care About You? 

Related
Is it possible to find peace during hard times?

Learn contentment in all situations by studying God’s provision: Take our Contentment with God’s Provision interactive online study.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they” (Matthew 6:26)?

I had never before embraced a perfect stranger.

As I left McDonald’s at Vanderbilt hospital that Sunday morning she stood just inside the door, small bag with breakfast in one hand, a few pieces of change in the other. Her face showed defeat and helplessness; unfettered tears slid down her face. I walked toward her, feeling her pain and wrapped my arms around her. I hugged her while she cried. I wanted to cry with her but I was temporarily out of tears.

Her daughters, she told me, had been in an auto accident on the way to school. The oldest was driving and relatively unharmed but the youngest had a broken back. She’d been airlifted from Kentucky and was now stable but in constant pain. This mom hadn’t considered her own needs until this moment of realization. Her husband had headed home to Kentucky that morning and she had only a few dollars. This breakfast would be her last meal for the week.

Except that it wouldn’t, because the God who provided manna and loaves and fishes had provided for us as well. She just didn’t know it yet.

My 7 year old daughter at that moment was upstairs in ICU. She and my son had been on the way home when their school bus crashed into a truck. My son escaped with minimal physical damage but my daughter suffered an open traumatic brain injury and was still in a coma. And like the other mom, every single moment and every effort was focused on my precious children. God’s workers, however, had a more encompassing view. Friends and strangers did what I couldn’t do for myself. They slipped money in my pockets for vending machines. They brought meals and baskets of food, gift bags full of snacks, sack lunches, fruits and candies in addition to gifts overflowing for my sleeping child.

I had an unexpected moment of joy seeing my new friend’s face when I told her how God had provided. There was more than enough for all of us. God had not forgotten us, even if we’d forgotten ourselves. He’d brought us together to share his blessing, his care and bounty delivered from the hands of his servants. We experienced his sweet and tender love in a strong and personal way.

We’re not alone or abandoned, no matter how desperate the situation. Our God still provides.

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us” (1 John 4:16).

Question: How has God unexpectedly provided for you in the past? What provisions do you need to pray about for the future?

Related:
Are You Starving for Life And Loveliness?

Life gets complicated. Don’t go it alone. Talk to us.

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

When discouragement hits, whom do you call?

I was almost nine months pregnant, and my husband was out of town. Though it had been a high-risk pregnancy, both, the baby and I were doing great.

I made a call to my medical insurance company that morning to discuss some issues regarding payment for my care. When my caseworker informed me that the insurance wouldn’t be covering a large amount of the expenses as I’d expected, my mouth froze open and hot tears came, tumultuously. I excused myself from the call and fell to the floor with my nose in the carpet, sobbing.

I know that I am among the privileged few in the world that even have medical insurance, and the care that I and my baby had been receiving was protecting our very lives. But in that moment, all of the trials I’d had with this insurance company during the pregnancy — this was just the latest — felt like an avalanche that would overtake me.

I knew my husband was in meetings, so I immediately tried to telephone my mom, who had been my sounding board through the insurance “saga.” Oddly, there was so answer. I dialed my sisters’ numbers — both of them. Only empty rings. I took a deep breath and entered my best friend’s phone number. No answer.

I think I still had the receiver in my hand when, in my spirit, I sensed God saying, “I am here.”

I said, “Please minister to me, Holy Spirit!” And He did.

What a gentle, yet potent, lesson this has been for me. My family and friends are gifts from God, and they can and do minister His love to me. But the Father wants me to run to Him first, for His to be the first number I dial. Because… He loves me and knows me and knows exactly what I need.

There’s another happy ending to this story. Two days before I would go to the hospital and deliver a healthy baby girl, I received a letter from the insurance company saying they were reversing their earlier decision and would cover all of my expenses. How I felt embraced by God’s love once again!

Whatever trial you’re going through today, know that you have no better listener, no better comforter and no better problem solver than our beloved Lord.
Let’s keep Him on speed dial.

Father, thank you that You are a very present help in time of trouble. When we need to pour out our problems, help us to turn to You. You are the friend who is closer than a brother. You are our Abba, our Counselor par excellence. Holy Spirit, minister to our deepest needs today.

Questions: Tell us about a time when God ministered to you in a dynamic way when discouragement had set in. Are you going through a trial today? Would you like us to pray for you at this time?

About the Author Stacy Wiebe

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NIV).

My daughter and I were doing dishes, when she quietly said to me, “Mom, it doesn’t work.”

“What doesn’t work?” I asked.

“Prayer.” She picked up a plate to dry it. “We’ve prayed and prayed for Dad (her Father was in the hospital), and he’s not getting better. In fact, he’s worse.” Then her voice dropped to a whisper, “And He does nothing for me either. It’s like God is off playing golf and He can’t be bothered with me.”

Have you ever felt like that? Despite much earnest prayer, nothing seems to be happening.

What’s our response at a time like this? You can either walk away from God or choose to trust Him. That doesn’t mean you’re sticking your head in the sand. Your heart’s cry might be, “I do not understand it and I do not like it; but I choose to believe that God is good and that He is working out His good plan – even now.”

Faith in a loving God gives us hope and stability to get on with life, to make the most of it. Faith lets us know in our heart that God is working quietly like the growing grass, the coloring of leaves, the unfolding of a flower, and just as relentlessly. In time, spring does come.

Eleven years have gone by since by daughter and I had that conversation. Much has happened in the meantime. Although her father did not recover, God has shown His tender loving care to our family in so many personal ways. No, God is not off playing golf.  He’s very much interested in every detail of our lives.

Are you in a “wait” period right now? Let me encourage you: God is working even when nothing seems to be happening. Trust Him.

Thank you, Father, that you have said, “I am the LORD; in     its time I will do
this swiftly” (Isaiah 60:22, NIV).

You can read more of my journey in Treasures of Darkness

Questions: How do you feel when God puts you in a “wait” period?  What helps you to continue trusting God during this period?

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Confidence in the Lord, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

Heart transplants are extremely rare. They take hours of planning, sterile technique, and incredible expertise. Although I’m a nurse I’ve never seen even one patient have their heart removed surgically and replaced. But I’ve seen lots of heart transplants occur in places other than hospital operating rooms. I participated when Pat, Joe, Arlene, Les, Sue, Sandy, Lois and many others had heart transplants. In malls and parks and filthy rooms I’ve prayed and watched as dead, stony hearts were removed and healthy hearts were implanted. Not by the surgeons at Mayo Clinic but by The Great Physician. God promises, “…I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). Those who let Jesus operate on their broken, wounded hearts are made whole. One touch from Him and sin diseased hearts are purified. Incredible!

But a pure heart alone isn’t enough to produce spiritual life. Something else is needed. God says, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood…” (Leviticus 17:11). Adam and Eve were created with pure hearts. These first Eden creatures were created from dirt and God’s breath. Genesis 2:7 Then sin overtook them. Their human DNA failed and they fell, breath of God or not. Dirt and breath don’t create pure hearts.

Animal blood was shed as propitiation for Adam and Eve’s sin. God clothed them with skin and they were sent from the garden. They began man’s wounded walk through life. Centuries later, still wounded and infected with sin, believing mankind falls at the foot of Christ’s cross, seeking forgiveness and healing. There from the riven side of our pierced Savior pure blood and water flowed down, cleansing our wounds. Kneeling supplicants, transfused in this manner, are healed. We are now blood brothers with Christ! Sin diseased DNA is replaced with the perfect DNA of the Savior’s blood. The water of life pours over us, scrubbing us clean from sin “…by the washing of water with the word” (Ephesians 5:26).  “And from our inner being rivers of living water begin to flow” (John 7:38).

Science states man consists of the chemical components of dirt, water (seventy to seventy-five percent), blood, and breath. As sinful men, when we trust Christ we’re cleansed from our filthiness. Our imperfect, failing DNA is purified by transfusion with the blood of Christ, the pure Lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world. We rise from beneath the Cross, complete in Christ – blood, water, breath, dirt. We’re not perfect until we get to Heaven, but we are holy because of His sin free DNA and the righteousness He imputes to all who obey Him. Through the blood of Christ we have found a pure heart at last.

Thank you, Lamb of God, for being my sin atonement and creating a place and a portion for me among those who are consecrated and purified by faith. Help me keep my heart pure before you. Amen.

Questions: How do we keep our heart pure before God? How does one get a new heart that is no longer infected with sin?

About the Author Petey Prater

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Jesus, From Everlasting to Everlasting, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Connie tapped on the door. A small voice called to her to come in. Connie was amazed at the tidy appearance of the old lady. The pearls and painted nails surprised her somehow. She looked little and alone. The small room in the hospital had become her home. She was grateful for a visitor.

Connie couldn’t help but notice the deep peace on this lady’s face as she told Connie, “God is so good. I’m alone now. It’s just the Lord and me, but I have a ministry here.” And she told her how she had grown to care about the nurses; how they came to put her to bed and stayed to have her pray with them. Though there was a longing to go to be with her Lord, there was also contentment. God’s peace and His love were very much alive in that little room.

As Connie started her car in the parking lot, she realized that her heart was lighter. She had gone out of duty and with a weary heart, but God had met her there and refreshed her spirit through a little granny.

Her morning Bible reading flooded back to her mind. It had been the story of Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. (John 13: 10-17) Jesus had demonstrated this giving task and then said,

“Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”(John 13:17).

The lesson was clear to her now. God had shown her tonight. In reaching out to others, we move beyond our own self-consumed worries and find blessing. She was glad she had gone. Nothing in her circumstances had changed. But in her spirit she had found an unexpected lift that lightened her step. Yes! God is so good!

Today, ask God who is on His heart in the circle you move in. Reach out to someone. Lighten their load with a word of encouragement or some small deed. It’s the way God works in blessing you and those around you.

Heavenly Father, You know me better than I know myself. You know that in giving I truly do receive. Forgive me for my worry. Help me to trust You to guide me through my circumstances and help me to keep an outward eye to those around me. Thank You for the happiness that comes as I reach out and purposefully touch the lives of those near me. Make me a blessing today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Questions: Who does God bring to mind that would be blessed from a visit from you?  How can we become more sensitive to the needs around us? Can you give an example of a time when you were blessed as you went to see someone even though you felt inconvenienced at the time?

About the Author Gail Rodgers

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, He Loves to Be With the Ones He Loves, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

After years of negotiating and trying to keep up with our repayment plan, we have lost the house we fought so hard to keep.  Our mortgage payment continued to escalate along with other bills throughout the last few years.  My husband of 10 years and I have two precious daughters ages 3 and 5.  It seems like we could either pay daycare and household bills or the mortgage.

Every morning DEBT stared us in the face.  In addition to our regular jobs we have videography business.  We have humbly shared Christ and prayed with couples when filming their weddings. Each time, watching them grow and reap a harvest while we remain bound by debt.

Two weeks after we got the foreclosure papers in the mail, my husband ended up in the hospital with complications caused by stress.  Still we pressed on believing that God would provide a way to keep this house.  We talked to foreclosure prevention counselors, we fasted, we prayed we rebuked the enemy and pleaded with God to help us.  He did, but I never imagined the help would come in letting the house go.

I have watched my husband suffer from depression and respond in ways that damaged our marriage.  The stressful environment has caused me to snap on my children who’s only crime was acting their age.

When the phone call came and we found out the house was foreclosed after all we have been through, my husband and I sat down and laughed.  Have we cried too much?   Were we in denial?  No, we are free.  The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness there of.  God has a new place for us physically and spiritually.  No house, or job, or any amount of money is worth a broken family.  We are the righteousness of God and he has called us to live life more abundantly- John 10:10. I never thought I would be happy to move from this house.  By the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, because his compassion fails not.  I am convinced that this trial was sent to make us stronger, increase our ministry and glorify God through testimony.  He has a new home for us. God has kept us and loved us through this entire process.  Even now as we have had to disclose the foreclosure to family and friends, I feel God’s love.  Rather than be ashamed, I try to focus on Mary and Martha, when they told Jesus, “If you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.”  Jesus prayed and thanked God that others were standing by and afterwards performed a great miracle and resurrected Lazarus from the grave.

Remember, we can not be conformed to this world – Romans 12:1.  There is nothing on this earth that can satisfy me and make me whole like God.  When we wake up in the morning, He should be what we meditate on, because He has everything else in control.  God’s will came in a way that we didn’t expect but I welcome it and embrace it just the same.

As we pack our earthly possessions in this house and look for our new home, my family is covered in the peace and love of Christ. Although my address is changing, I am confident that “goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life: and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:6).

Questions: Are you facing financial struggles today? What adjustment in your lifestyle is God asking you to make?

About the Author From the Mailbox: Stacey Wiggins

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Nevertheless…, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog