Heavenly Perspective
We cast all of our expectations onto heaven when this life is loss, and we can cast more there too. Through faithfulness testify of true hope in Christ during sorrow—this is heavenly purpose—it is as if we somehow heap more worthy weight onto our future glory. From this life, we will take with us into the next all that has been for Him. And it all matters. That is why Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory ...
Discussions in Grief: Praise
Grieving involves new emotions and considerations often too many to numbers. When you find yourself in overwhelming grief, you likely feel buried and lost. In this series, we slowly and compassionately look at one aspect of grief at a time from a biblical perspective for the newly grieving mother. Click {here} to read past posts in this series.
Imagine yourself in a pit. You are struggling to see and breathe, you are terribly lonely, and it looks as if there is no way out. This is a picture of what grief feels like to most. I often picture myself covered in the ...
In the Word: The Light of Heaven
Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. It is our desire that this series will aid you in getting in the Bible for yourself and discovering the joy that comes from hearing from God through the pages of His Word.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
2 Corinthians 4:17The truth of a future glory does not bring your baby back to you, but it will bring you to your baby. Is the view of heaven not greatly expanded when contrasted with the darkness of baby loss?Your child’s story, ...
The Shore
Grief is so unpredictable. It’s like standing in the ocean, but facing the shore. I’m not admiring the beautiful coastline as one would imagine. I am standing soaking wet—water dripping into my eyes, fists clenched, body shaking and tense. A permanent grimace is on my face. My knee and elbow are cut open and a pink mixture of water and blood dissipate into the ocean surrounding me.
I am standing there waiting.I am waiting for the next impact, the next wave to hit. In anticipation, I do my best to ground my feet by digging them deeper into the sand below me. I ...
Erica’s Retreat Experience
I didn’t find out about the retreat until close to the end of registration. But I felt the want, no, the need to go. Before the retreat I was feeling very alone. It was like I was the only one in the world grieving a baby I never got to hold, a life I never got to meet face to face. I felt like I was going crazy and everyone was just watching, waiting for my breakdown. I felt like I shouldn’t be crying this much, sad this often, dwelling on my losses so deeply. Everyone else was over it, so why wasn’t I?I got to the retreat Friday evening feeling literally sick ...
Renewing Your Focus
New Year’s resolutions have a bad reputation. Often, our goal is to make this life as easy as possible, not regarding the Lord’s greater plan and trustworthiness, and elevating our own desires above His authority. We often find ourselves living with this temporary, humanistic view of time—we are impatient, frustrated in trials, lacking in perseverance, not living with eternity in mind, worrying, not trusting God for provision, or living in fear.
Grief has tempted me to live this way. In missing my baby, I ache so fiercely that, sometimes, I ...
Hope Mommies Retreat: A Place of Healing and Hope
I do not know where my words are [physically] finding you—curled up on the couch with a cup of tea, or up at 3:00am with tear stained cheeks. I do not know where my words are [emotionally] finding you—angry at the hand dealt you and withdrawing from all of your old daily rhythms, or desperately seeking and choosing joy as you rebuild your new normal. I do not know if my words find you tugging at the robe of King Jesus, begging Him to make sense of it all, or if you are running as far and fast away from the gospel as your weary legs can take you.What I do know, ...
Discussions in Grief: Surrender
Grieving involves new emotions and considerations often too many to numbers. When you find yourself in overwhelming grief, you likely feel buried and lost. In this series, we slowly and compassionately look at one aspect of grief at a time from a biblical perspective for the newly grieving mother. Click {here} to read past posts in this series.
I don't know what comes to mind for you when you think of the word “surrender”, but for me I picture the end of a long battle and the losing side has nothing left. Surrender happens when they give up and hand ...
The Weary World Rejoices
For weeks now, the world has been eagerly anticipating Christmas Day. That’s what the Advent season is all about—waiting. Clinging to hope. Knowing and trusting that help is on its way. The baby in the manger is coming. One day all will be made right. Advent invites us to sit in the tension between the promise and its fulfillment. It gives voice to the longing in our hearts.
The people of Israel expected the Messiah to liberate them from the oppression of the Romans. But Christ’s coming didn’t bring the political relief they were expecting. Much in the same ...
A Thrill of Hope
“For to us a Child is born,to us a Son is given;and the government shall be upon His shoulder,and His name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Isaiah 9:6
We live in the space between the first and second coming of this born-to-us Savior. Jesus, who came to earth as a baby to save His people, will one day return to bring them home. We celebrate the first Christmas because we know Christ will come again to make all things new.
This Christmas may be filled with reminders of your ...
