9 results for tag: Lauren

Beauty in the Ashes

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:11a READ: We don’t know. Pause there for just a moment. We don’t know what our suffering will mean for us as we move forward, as we learn to integrate our griefs and losses into our lives. There is the potential for trauma and heartache, yes, but there is the potential for post-traumatic growth. We don’t entirely know how our losses will impact us. But we do know that regardless of what happens, God is good, He makes beautiful things from our pain, and He has a plan—even if we can’t fully understand it. This verse in Ecclesiastes, possibly written by ...

Hymns of Hope: Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Many of the hymns were born out of immense sorrow. In this series, we will examine these songs of old, discover the circumstances behind when they were written, and find comfort in the lyrics that so powerfully point us to the hope of Christ. Have you ever felt pain from something that others have and you don’t? Like a relationship? A baby? A family with children? Living children? You might find comfort in this old hymn—a source of words brought forth from reminders of the author’s own pain and what he, himself, did not have. This song, Oh Love That Will Not Let Me Go, resonated with me in my dark days of grief. As you read the ...

He Makes Everything Beautiful

Welcome to Hope Mommies’ In the Word devotionals. Over the next several weeks, we will be studying the book of Ecclesiastes together, which centers on the truth that life apart from Christ is empty and vain. In its pages, we discover how to view our lives with an eternal perspective, enabling us to press into the Lord regardless of our circumstances. In this series, we seek to explore the wise principles presented to us by "the Teacher" in order to better understand what it looks like to walk in the fear and joy of the Lord even in the midst of our grief. “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes ...

Hymns of Hope: How Firm a Foundation

Many of the hymns were born out of immense sorrow. In this series, we will examine these songs of old, discover the circumstances behind when they were written, and find comfort in the lyrics that so powerfully point us to the hope of Christ. It was a song I wasn’t familiar with. I don’t even know how my husband found it. I was numb, too numb to take in his suggestion. Yet, when he shared the lyrics with me, and I heard the actual song with the words, something stood out. Was it the right fit? Would these words provide comfort, meaning, and a steady reminder of truth in our darkness and pain? Were the lyrics haunting or helpful? Or both? We ...

My First Time Returning to Work After Loss

I sat in my car, trying to practice the deep breaths I knew I needed to take. I rolled some essential oils on my wrists, touched my Isaac necklace, and thumbed through my purse to be sure the pictures of my baby were still there. I hesitated. I cringed. I wanted to drive away. Instead, I opened the car door, stepped out, stood still and straight, and walked unsteadily towards my office building, pep-talking myself each step of the way. Thoughts and memories of the baby announcement at work, along with the smiles and well-wishes, flooded my mind as I climbed the stairs. I walked in the door and went straight to my desk. I remember feeling ...

Lauren’s Lament

Lauren’s Story

We both heard it clearly: God’s call on our lives to be parents. We felt hopeful, grateful, and a little scared. In time, we questioned those words “parents” repeatedly and even doubted our ability to hear God accurately or trust Him, because what we didn’t know and barely understood was that our first child, Isaac, would be the child we wouldn’t raise here on earth.  … My husband, Eric, and I were hopeful when we started planning for a family. Getting pregnant proved difficult. My sister and friends announced their pregnancies, threw baby showers, and grew beautiful, round bellies, while I got my period month after month and ...

It is Well With Me

Music has the ability to speak into the deepest recesses of our hearts. God often uses songs to speak hope and encouragement to our souls. In this series, Hope Moms share songs that have pointed them to the hope of Christ in the midst of their grief. Is there a song that has comforted you in your grief? We'd love to have you share your story here. Often in my deepest and darkest days of grief, the only solace that would provide momentary comfort to my aching soul was music. I played songs on repeat over and over and over as tears poured down my face and my anxiety rose and then softened.  One song in particular stands out to me ...

This Thanksgiving, Remember That God Sees You

Mama, I see you. I see your tears, your ache, your pain. More importantly, God sees you. You are not alone, even if you feel like it as the holidays are approaching. "It’s the most wonderful time of the year," right? But often, when we're in the thick of our grief, it's not. The coming days may be hard, but not impossible. Even in the thick of our grief, our God promises to be with us constantly and consistently—and He is close, very close, to you, Mama.  Let me share with you a few ideas of encouragement this Thanksgiving, and remind you, even if you don't believe it today, that you will get through this. You will, brave Mama, with ...