Back in December Michelle Duggar went to her 20 week anatomy scan and they were unable to find the heartbeat of her baby. Her 20th child, a girl, had passed away. Any mother's heart would break in that moment yet there have been so many harsh opinions expressed. People are saying that this is what they get for getting pregnant again at her age and after already having so many kids. People even have the audacity to say that this loss is a sign from God to stop having kids. Even those who respect their decision to trust God question whether having more kids is wise considering how hard her last pregnancy was. What I see in these responses is heartlessness, the failure to understand how God works, and the failure to realize what trusting in God means.
A miscarriage is never a "sign" from God that this child should have never been conceived. He is the very One who brought about her conception. God had a purpose for Jubilee. We don't always understand why He does what He does and His purpose for Jubilee may never be realized but we can trust in His sovereignty. The fact that she was conceived was not a surprise to Him. The fact that she didn't come to term was also not a surprise to Him. God knew the entire time what He was doing. I can't say why He allowed Jubilee to be conceived knowing that she would never be born alive but that is where trust must enter in.
Trusting in God doesn't mean that He allows nothing but good to happen. Trusting in Him means relying on His omniscience and sovereignty even when things don't make sense. In fact, it is the tragic times that teach us to trust Him more. Just because Michelle's last pregnancy was so rough and scary doesn't mean that God can no longer be trusted. It doesn't mean that He no longer cares about them. It also doesn't mean that they should avoid going through that again. That is out of their control. I doubt Michelle would choose to have a rough pregnancy, to deal with preeclampsia, or to deliver much too early. Those things are out of her control so she trusts in God to give her a healthy pregnancy and, if problems arise, she trusts Him to work it out according to His will. That is what trust in God looks like. It's giving up control and allowing Him to do His work, whatever that may be.
God's Word says in Romans that He will "work all things together for the good of those who love God and to those who are called according to His purpose." That "working all things together" doesn't always look good to us. It will end up being good in God's eyes but the working it out is often painful for us. The Duggars are probably in pain right now as they deal with this loss but God will work this out for their good. Michelle and Jim Bob may always feel the sting of the death of their daughter but in time they will heal. There is great opportunity in this tragedy for the family to draw even closer to each other and to strengthen their faith and trust in God. There is great opportunity here for sanctification.
The world would look at this tragedy and say things like, "This is a sign to stop having kids," "they brought this on themselves," "they're just causing more pain for their family." But a person who understands what it means to trust God would look at this tragedy and say, "The Lord gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
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