The mission of Made for This Birth is to provide information, resources, and support for pregnancy and birth from a uniquely faith-filled perspective. Unfortunately, because of our fallen world, far too many of us have had to navigate losing a baby before birth, often without a lot of support or resources to help. So part of our mission is also to offer resources and support for miscarriage and stillbirth. The reality of being open to life also means that we become open to loss.
After we lost our baby years ago I found comfort and some peace in many of the words given to us by God in Scripture. I thought I would share a few here for anyone who may find help and hope in them. Some were bathed in my tears, perfect right when I needed them, some needed to work their way into my heart as I grieved, but all of them somehow brought healing in my brokenness and provide that still. At the end of the list is a box where you can download and print the list for free for your own private use. I hope it blesses you and brings you comfort.
1 Samuel 1:27-28
"For this child I prayed; and the Lord has granted me my petition which I made to Him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord."
Psalm 6:6-9
"I am weary with my moaning; every night I flood my bed with tears; I drench my couch with my weeping. My eye wastes away because of grief, it grows weak because of all my foes. Depart from me, all you workers of evil; for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. The Lord has heard my supplication; the Lord accepts my prayers."
(Oh, He does. He accepts our prayers even when the only prayers we have are raw sobs of grief.)
Psalm 23:4
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me."
Psalm 34:18
"The Lord is near to the broken-hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit."
Psalm 116:15
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."
{Entire Psalms that are helpful: 13, 22, 23, 77}
Ecclesiastes 11:5
"Just as you do not know how the life breath enters the human frame in the mother's womb, So you do not know the work of God who is working in everything."
Wisdom 1:13-14
"God did not make death, and he does not delight in the death of the living. For he created all things that they might exist."
(This one, especially, spoke straight to my heart as well-meaning people tried to comfort me with talk of "God's will" while my entire being and soul seemed to scream out that NO, NO, NO, this is NOT God's will.)
Isaiah 25:8
"He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken."
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you."
(Most mothers I know never forget but this is a comfort when you feel like everyone else has forgotten your child.)
Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you."
Lamentations 3:20-23
"My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him.""
Matthew 5:4
"Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted."
Matthew 11:28
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Mark 10:13-16
"And they were bringing children to Him, that He might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it He was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands upon them."
(Also Matthew 19:13-15 and Luke 18:15-17)
Romans 8:18
"I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Romans 8:28
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to His purpose."
1 Corinthians 15:51-55
"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed...then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy victory? O death where is they sting?"
2 Corinthians 1:3-5
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. "
1 Thessalonians 4:14
"For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."
Revelation 21:3-5
"I heard a great voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." And He who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.""
(Scriptures are all taken from the RSV or NAB translation.)
You can download and print the Scripture list below. This resource is offered as a free download from Made for This Birth.
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