1. We assemble today to comfort the stillbirth of this baby boy.
2. We know that there is pain, anxiety, grief and loss within this group.
3. Please know that the folks who have gathered with you are here to comfort and encourage you in this difficult time.
I. `Today There are Many Unanswered Questions
The Biggest Question is WHY Did This Happen?
We are not always given explanations as to why things happen (good or bad)
Job was not told why the bad things that happened to him happened
Often God gave commands that were not followed with explanations -- eating of unclean animals; circumcision on the eighth day; etc.
Sometimes when we get the explanations we are amazed -- the story of Habakkuk
II. Things We Know --
A. The Child is without Sin
4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sins shall die. Ezekiel 18.4
B. The Child is with God
22 He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, 'Who knows whether the LORD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' 23 But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me." 2 Samuel 12.22-23
C. God Is Present in Our Troubles and Struggles -- Psalm 139
O LORD, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,"
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
D. God Works Through His People
The Importance of Family and of Church Family
Compassion
Some have walked where you are walking -- same or similar
III. We May Not Be Able to Answer WHY but We Can Answer WHAT?
A. What do we do now?
1. Choose to reject God
2. Choose to find strength in Him
B. What are we to be? James 1.2-3; Romans 8.28-31
28 We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us?
Conclusion
1. We live in a fallen world and life is hard
a. It would be nice if we lived in a bubble of protection when we become followers of God
b. The reality is, life as a believer in Jesus is harder in many ways
c. YET, life as a believer is also more rewarding
2. Solomon was at one point the wisest man in the world
a. He failed to use his wisdom properly
b. The result was a futile search for meaning
12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. Ecclesiastes 1.12-14
3. By the end of his life, it seems that he understood the purpose of life
a. Our purpose is not to find "Hollywood Happiness"
b. Our purpose is to honor God and in that honoring we find true happiness
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them"; (12.1)
13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. (12.13-14)
Love's Lament, Psalms' Comfort
Hear my prayer, O Lord,
And let my cry come unto thee.
Psalms 102:1
Dear God this just can't be.
My loved one has died. Why me?
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
All strength is gone,
My soul transformed
How do I breathe and then go on?
He maketh me to lie down
In green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
I believed in love, in hope,
In tomorrow. Often I wonder
Why such sorrow?
He restoreth my soul;
He leadeth me in the paths of
Righteousness for his name's sake.
A death march. A premature end.
The darkness overwhelms me.
To the depths must I descend?
Yea, though I walk through
The valley of the shadow of death
With fear and anger I am overcome.
And eternal loneliness.
Where does comfort come from?
I will fear no evil;
For thou art with me;
They rod and thy staff they comfort me.
I seek solace, mercy,
Guidance, friendship and love.
On this journey--
When does peace come?
Surely goodness and mercy shall
Follow me all the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house
Of the Lord Forever. Psalms 23
Lament -- Sherokee Ilse
http://babiesremembered.org/
