A Freaky Bible Moment

For some reason when I woke up this morning, I was giddy about getting into my Isaiah study. Last night, President Obama announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed.  There is so much prophesy and promises in the book of Isaiah that I just knew I'd find something about this in there (which I did).

But, turns out, that's absolutely NOT the reason I was in the book of Isaiah today. My friend Holly held her newborn son yesterday and watched him pass away. He lived for a little more than 40 hours. It is difficult to see God's purposes in the midst of tragedy. When you are the mama of a child that has passed away, I'm imagining that it's difficult to have hope for tomorrow. While I've not been that mama, I have been the friend of that mama. And it hurts. As a mother, it hurts so deeply to watch another mother lose a child. You picture yourself in her shoes with your own children and the mere thought is more than you (I) can bear.

So, why was Isaiah important for me to read the day after baby Thomas passed away? Because of this (Isaiah 65:20):
 ²⁰ “Never again will there be in it
   an infant who lives but a few days,
   or an old man who does not live out his years;
the one who dies at a hundred
   will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach a hundred
   will be considered accursed. "

I know. That's freaky. I mean, those are EXACT words for this EXACT situation! I'm still dumbfounded. Not a coincidence. Providence. I did not sit down to seek out hope. I did not seek out why God allowed Thomas to be born and die so quickly. But, I did seek Him and Him alone out and He gave me what I didn't even know I needed.

Now, I'm not Holly. I'm not the mom who is about to bury her newborn son. I don't know how this would effect me if I were her. But, as an outsider looking in, this verse gave me great hope. Knowing that while life today hurts, the future will not. I keep my eyes set on the day where "I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17). I cry, I mourn, I'm sad. But, I'm also hopeful. This world is not my home. I cling to Him and trust that what He's said will come to pass.


There will be a day....