praising Him through the desert

Two wonderful friends Andre and Jeanette Garces were a few months pregnant and lost the baby to a miscarriage. Andre is asking for prayer for his wife, yet giving glory to God through this really tough moment.

He writes:

"Please pray for us, especially my wife. God in His wisdom and love has taken the new addition to our little family home. Child of Andre & Jeanette...sibling to Mary...enjoy the alluring, delightful and beautiful glory of God!!! We shall meet one day!"

The little baby-the blessing-that Andre and Jeanette believed the Lord would entrust to them to raise, is now in the presence of the Living God, in heaven. Andre encourages the baby that he will not meet here on earth, to enjoy being in the presence of God in heaven.

The blessings in this life, like a child or a marriage, are only meant to be extra gifts that can bring us extra joy. With or without those gifts and blessings we can experience fullness of and complete joy if we know God and belong to Him.

God Himself is the greatest blessing of all and the promise of eternity with Him and freedom from this sinful world and our fallen bodies is the most amazing gift ever. He also gives strength and encouragement during very hard times.

I'm SO humbled by Andre and Jeanette's reaction of praise and the faith they have in the Living God. There's no doubt that there is hurt-because there is loss. Nevertheless, they cling to the truth they believe in their hearts to be true, that God is good.

He alone is the giver of the strength that they are showing.

Seeing God's people give Him glory, like Andre and Jeanette are doing, is incredibly encouraging and brings God so much glory. We're able to clearly see the God-given strength and joy through the pain.

Let's keep Andre, Jeanette, and their daughter Mary in our prayers.

Isaiah 43:19-21

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth,

do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

The wild beasts will honor me,the jackals and the ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise."