Power, Love, and Strength for National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day

Father, I do not bring myself to October 15, this day of national remembrance for my baby who has gone to be with You, thinking like the world. Joining with others to sweetly remember, my child visibly recognized in this world, is a joyous gift. Yet, the grounding I seek in grief is of a different source.

Before You, my Maker, I bow. And I pray as a believer who has committed my life to You in faith, that You would strengthen me with power in my inner spirit through the Holy Spirit.

Strengthen me; I need this. Strengthen me to be rooted and grounded, planted firmly, in the knowledge of Your love for me that changelessly is mine because of the cross of Christ. You sacrificed greatly. How wide is that love? How long? How high does it reach, and where the bottom of its depths? 

Strengthen me to comprehend that Your love, beyond my comprehension, has opening for me. My need is no stretch for You. My tears are not too many for the absorbing power of Your love; my ache is not too great for Your love’s comfort. My emptiness is not so pervasive that it extends beyond the reaches of Your love for me. And my love for my child is not so surpassing that You do not love both me and my child more than I understand. 

Fill me, God, with Your fullness. For my heart is ready to receive. My tears, ache, and emptiness I bring; You are not surprised by my need. You are not taken aback that I cry, yet another time. Instead, You assure my spirit that You can do far more abundantly in this heart of mine, to restore me to living this life, than I can imagine—and do it through the power of the Holy Spirit who truly indwells me.

You are the strength of my heart. The Father’s plan. Christ’s sacrifice. The Spirit’s work in me. For in my immense, earthly loss, I live even this day because of Your love.

Words, now, to ask for all I know I need are evading me. But, as You are able to do abundantly more in me than I can think or imagine, I set words aside and avail myself of You. I commit myself to You for strength not only for this minute, but also the next—not only for my day of remembrance, but for the one after that when I live another quieted day without my baby near.

I have all the need. 

You have all the power. 

Thank You for already having given me in Christ more than I would have ever know how to request. Yes, surely You have all the glory too. 

Strengthen me with power, according to the immeasurable riches of Your glory, to know Your love in my spirit until before You and by You and of You I am filled. 

In Christ and by the Spirit, amen. 

…

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that according to the riches of His glory
He may grant you to be strengthened with power 
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the saints 
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us,
to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. 
Amen.“
Ephesians 3:14-21

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Lianna (@liannadavis) is wed to Tyler and mom of two dear daughters. She is author of Made for a Different Land: Eternal Hope for Baby Loss(Hope Mommies, 2019). More of her writing can be found at her website.

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