“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
I remember one afternoon in 2004 like it was yesterday. It had been a long day, and I came home exhausted. My wife, Audra, greeted me at the door and followed me up the stairs, and told me, “You’re going to be a dad! We’re having a baby!”
At first, I was shocked… then my state of shock transitioned into a state of excitement and joy and tears in my eyes. I was overwhelmed with emotion! We were both jumping around the room like we were little kids, beyond excited that we were about to become parents for the very first time!
Well, we immediately started talking about how we were going to tell our families. So, we planned a dinner at our house. My wife’s parents had to fly 1,000 miles to be there, and this would be one of the first times our families were together since we had been married. But neither one of them had a clue what we were about to drop on them. So, the dinner date was all set.
I’ll never forget one particular night, only a couple of days before our big dinner. We were laying in bed and Audra told me that she was experiencing some pain in her abdomen. I did not think anything about it and told her to “roll over and don’t worry about it.” But she insisted something was wrong and decided that it would be best to go to the doctor.
That was when the doctor broke the news and, looking at Audra, said, “I’m so sorry ma’am, but there is no heartbeat.”
We were devastated. We cried. We tried to figure out why. Our families were about to be at our house for this special dinner and now we had to explain to them that their first grandchild was already with the Lord.
Maybe you can relate. Maybe your circumstances are not as severe as losing a child. Or maybe they are. Either way, it is important to remember in times like these, God has not forsaken you. It might be painful, it might not make sense, but God still has a plan for you. No matter what happens, you will not be forsaken.
The Lord was with us every step of the way through that painful, heartbreaking season. And I have full confidence He will do the same for you. My prayer is that you won’t lose faith in the midst of your pain and loneliness, but that instead, you will trust that the Lord will take care of you because He is always faithful.