Miscarriage #2
My first miscarriage after Ellie was quick and painless, so I was expecting more of the same when Josh and I were told I had a “blighted ovum” pregnancy a couple weeks ago. Although we were waiting for a natural miscarriage to occur, I wasn’t prepared for a weekend of pain culminating with an ER visit last night.
For myself and other women I know, a miscarriage physically reminds them of labor, but without the gift of a child in the end. Much like labor, there are waves of excruciating pain. In labor, the suffering births a life. With a miscarriage, the pain expels a loss. Although the purpose of the pain is different, in the suffering of both labor and miscarriage there is pain and there is purpose. There is either life produced or life lost.
When we suffer, we don’t labor in vain and without purpose. We are either involved in the production of good character or God is removing a feature in or lives for our ultimate benefit, even when we don’t understand. We birth and we lose. In both cases, every detail of our lives, when we love God, is worked into something good.
Are you suffering? You may be in the midst of labor and birthing life benefiting character. In the end, just like in labor, your suffering is intended to produce life. It is all for your good.
Romans 5:3-4 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
Are you in pain? You may be in the middle of expelling an imperfection in your life. God intends to draw it out and refine you so that you can be used towards His ultimate purposes. It is all for your good.
1 Peter 4:1-2 Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old sinful habit of always expecting to get your own way. Then you’ll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants..
