The Lord of Life
It was a month filled with the highest joys and deepest grief.
After 15 months of daily praying for another child (and miscarrying our babies last summer), my husband and I found out that God gave us another baby! Pure excitement, happiness, and laughter filled our house.
But a few weeks later, I had some alarming symptoms and went to the doctor.
There are two words you never want to hear when having an ultrasound: “No heartbeat.” I think what my doctor actually said was, “I’m sorry, there is no cardiac pulsation to be found.” The words seemed to shake the office walls, and they certainly shattered my heart.
“The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him” (Nahum 1:7 NKJV).
We discussed the options and decided to go through the miscarriage naturally. I set up several appointments with a nurse to monitor my progress, and I left, crying my way through the halls of the office, down the elevator, and out to the parking lot.
We mourned, and we prayed. My husband prayed for God to breathe life back into our baby. I agreed from the depths of my aching heart, but it took me a few days to be able to put words to my prayers.
I continued to have miscarriage symptoms for 10 days. In the midst of those symptoms, and more tests and appointments, I was also learning a lot.
I was learning to serve others in the midst of grief. I was learning to believe (cling to, trust in, rely on) the truth that God is with me, even when I didn’t feel His presence. I was learning that Jesus lightens grief through hope, peace, and truth. Satan makes it heavier with fear, accusation, and despair. I was learning to give thanks in all circumstances.
Words from Oswald Chambers really hit home for me: “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”
I needed to go back to my doctor for another “monitor the miscarriage” appointment. Those are hard. My doctor explained what to expect on the ultrasound and why she wouldn’t allow me to watch at first. She was glad to hear that my miscarriage symptoms had stopped that morning, but she also mentioned that there may not be any “fetal tissue” left at all. She started the ultrasound. After a few seconds, a “wow” slipped off her lips and she turned the screen toward me.
God raises the dead! To the astonishment of the whole office, the image of a baby fluttered onto the ultrasound screen. Not just the body of my baby, but the image showed my baby with a beating heart—God raised our baby back to life!
I’m not sure what I did in that moment. I know the doctor watched that heartbeat from every angle for more than five minutes with me. I thought she was pretty generous with her time. I also thought she was trying to figure out what happened. Her conclusion? “That’s a miracle.” I just remember saying, “Praise the Lord” and “Thank You, Jesus” over and over as the tears flowed out of me.
So we rejoice. With joy unspeakable. We give God all the glory. He is good, and the circumstances never changed His goodness.
And I say a thousand times, Praise the Lord! If you don’t yet know Jesus, please know this: He is the risen Lord. He breathed life into my baby, and He will breathe life into your heart too. He loves you, and He invites you to turn away from your sin and follow Him. I can tell you this: you and I both need Him. We all need Him.
“Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD” (Psalm 105:1–3 NKJV).
15 comments
Pat Martin | March 18, 2016
We bow before our God in holy hush. Creator of life, redeemer of life. Deliverer of life. Thank you for magnifying God in your miracle and sharing it with us.
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Marla Pendleton | March 18, 2016
What a beautiful testimony of His love. All the glory to God.
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Alisa Jackson Harris | March 19, 2016
Our God can breathe new life into any dead situation or circumstance! To God be the glory!
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Joan | March 19, 2016
Through tears I am so blessed to read your testimony to God's faithfulness and love. Thank you Bethany! Lord bless you.
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Shelley | March 19, 2016
Dear Bethany, What a wonderful message. It brought tears and such happy excitement when reading of how the Lord brought life from death. Thank you for sharing this. I'm not sure when all this happened; but I pray that all goes perfectly with this baby and birth.
God Bless.
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Julia Tafalla | March 19, 2016
What a beautiful story of hope and trust in our God, and of what the Lord can do when a father and mother pray for their child! This brought tears to my eyes- I am so overjoyed for your family!
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Tammy Beasley | March 19, 2016
I'm so grateful that God breathed life back into your child. God is good. I'm grateful that I went through the same experience as you did. But my son was born stillbirth. I lost my oldest daughter Lacy that very same month to cancer. She left behind a 2 1/2 year old daughter. September was a hard month for me. But by the grace of God and the power of His love, I still love Him and never question...why baby Larry or why Lacy? I understand His love and why some get breathed life back on earth and others don't. Thank you for sharing your testimony. It touched me. Tammy
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Nayeli | March 19, 2016
Praise God! Our God is so good. Thank you for sharing.
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Linda Thomson | March 19, 2016
"God raises the dead." Thanking the Lord for His miracle in your pregnancy!
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Jennifer | March 19, 2016
This was such an incredible story that clearly glorified our King. I have to tell you that your name alone (coupled with this story) caught my eye. Our third baby did not come to us until a season of unexpected waiting. The Lord grew me so much in that time, but during the month she ended up being conceived, I was told by my OB's office that, according to lab results, there was no way I could have even ovulated. The Lord proved He was so much bigger than a lab result (He clearly whispered such to my heart when I first got the news, before I got a positive pregnancy test). We named her Bethany Faith. As you may know, the name means "House of Praise" AND "House of Pain." Only by faith and trust in Jesus can we dwell in a house of pain while experiencing—and then living out—a house of praise! I'm very happy for you!
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Norma | March 20, 2016
Thank you for sharing your testimony with us. My friend is going through the same situation and she is heartbroken but is holding on to hope. I will definitely share this with her. God bless you and your baby. God is so Good!! Praise Jesus for this beautiful miracle. Oh how joyful I am!
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Kimmy Lowry | March 20, 2016
Thank you for sharing this!!! It's so important to share the miracles in a day and time when people are hurting and lost. I love when there is no explanation but God! Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord!
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Brenda | March 22, 2016
Dear Bethany I am so grateful for the miracle that occurred. God bless you sweet heart.
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Grayce Teves | March 28, 2016
Dear Bethany,
Thank you so much for sharing your miracle of life with us. It was something I truly needed to hear today. God is good. God Bless you and your little baby. Thank you Jesus.
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Christy Foster | June 11, 2016
Bethany- Praise the Lord for His faithful mercies that are renewed every morning. My mom shared this with me as a way to encourage my friend as she experiences a similar situation. I have personally seen God's hand in many miracles regarding tiny babies and your story is just another example. Thank you for sharing God's testimony in the middle of a painful and difficult situation. Praying for God's hand of faithfulness to continue the remainder of your pregnancy.
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