Tragedy and Hope

The family of our friends underwent a grave tragedy in their life, Julie's brother and his wife lost the life of their child Porter while he was in the womb of his mother (you can read about it on her blog, it is linked herein as: Julie under our Friends of Jesus links). The tragedy brings reality before us to behold both the mysteriousness of God's ways and His goodness. His goodness is realized to all of those who have no problem pregnancies and is infinitely blessed with healthy children. The mysteriousness of God is realized by the human wondering of why He would allow such tragedy to occur. The Bible answers the why in a general sense, but surely it does not answer the specific whys. Lord, why would you take this baby from a family that would raise him up in all of your ways? The answer specifically is not answered in the Bible. However, a great hope is extended specifically to this situation. We can find it in 2 Samuel as seen below:

21 His servants asked David, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"
22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved him; 25 and because the LORD loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.

Beyond this we know that God by His power will bring us to His glory and glorify us with heavenly bodies and we can be sure and expect to see Porter with a grown and beautiful body. Our God is a God of hope, as Paul says, "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Faith is the substance of things hoped for. When the New Testament speaks of hope, it is better understood as something expected; it does not carry the connotation of unsurety as it does in English. Faith in Jesus gives us the expectation of glory. Faith in Jesus gives us the expectation of embracing our deceased little ones in that day when we pass from this earth onward to glory.

Our prayers are with all of you. We thank God that Porter is in the King's embrace and Porter will one day be embraced by His mother and father in glory.