Cradled in HopeНамуна

One of my greatest comforts is knowing Bridget is safe in Heaven, protected against the brokenness of this world. She left the comfort of my womb and entered into the presence of Jesus.

Bridget will never know what it feels like to have her heart broken. No one will lie to, betray, reject, or abandon her. She will never experience anxiety or depression. She won’t be tempted to sin or suffer its unpleasant consequences. Bridget will never feel the weight of shame, guilt, or regret.

There is a book in the Bible about a man named Job, a righteous man who loved God and was blameless before Him. However, Satan believed Job only obeyed God because He had blessed him. Satan suggested that God remove His protection from Job and destroy everything he had. So God allowed Satan to kill his livestock and all his sons and daughters.

But even after enduring such grief, Job maintained his integrity and faith in God. So Satan afflicted him with painful sores all over his body. After Job experienced this excruciating suffering, he cursed the day he was born. In his distress, he asked God, “Why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?” (Job 3:16 NIV, emphasis added).

Never saw the light of day. As a bereaved mom, this statement initially bothered me. It saddened me to think Bridget had never seen the sun or experienced life on this earth. How could someone wish they were stillborn? But, when we contrast this earth’s brokenness with Heaven’s perfection, I can understand Job’s perspective better.

Our babies are happy and whole, living abundant lives in a perfect Paradise. We are the ones stuck living on this broken earth, enduring endless trials and pain. If God gave us even a glimpse of the glory our babies are experiencing, we wouldn’t want them to come back to this sin-stained earth. In fact, we would want to go straight there and bypass the troubles of this world.

When daydreaming about seeing Bridget in Heaven, I sometimes envision her as the tiny thirteen-ounce baby I once held on earth. Other times, I imagine her as a full-term newborn infant, the size I had expected her to be if she had been born on her due date. And once in a while, I picture myself running on streets of gold holding the hand of a long-haired brunette, green-eyed little girl.

It’s natural to wonder about our babies’ appearance in Heaven. Yet, we simply don’t have all the details. Scripture doesn’t provide a clear answer about people’s age in Heaven or whether age is even measured there. Though I wish God addressed this particular topic in the Bible, He has not. We cannot speculate one way or the other, which leaves room for us to have faith in the mystery.

While it’s human nature to desire certainty, I find solace in trusting that God has a perfect plan for our children in Heaven. Because He is good, we can be confident His plan is better than we can imagine and will not disappoint us. Our babies are safe and secure in Jesus’ loving arms. We will be overjoyed when we see them again—whatever form their bodies are in.

Closing Question/Action Step: What excites you the most about seeing your baby in Heaven? Imagine your reunion with them and what it will be like to explore Paradise together.