“How sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives; but greater still, the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because he lives.”
Growing up singing this familiar hymn, Because He Lives, I did not grasp the depth of its meaning. In the late 1960s, Gloria Gaither wrote it while expecting her third child. The song grew out of a place of deep anxiety and mental anguish. Yet as she penned the lyrics, she experienced a profound sense of peace. As a young girl, this hymn felt like any other song to me. But in this season of life, raising children, those words weigh heavily on my heart.
The Joy and the Challenge of New Life
Baby showers, overflowing with love, gifts, and excitement, make everything feel joyous and perfect. Relatives and friends eagerly await the birth, and their visits to the hospital fill the air with celebration. But once the initial excitement fades, reality settles in—and so do the challenges.
After all the preparations to create a clean, sanitised environment for our newborn, I found my little sunshine turning yellow—literally. Baby jaundice is common, but due to labour complications, my daughter had cephalohematomas (swelling under the scalp). This raised her bilirubin levels, requiring admission to the NICU for phototherapy.
No matter how well-prepared new parents think they are, the reality can feel overwhelming. Every little change—like the shifting colours of a newborn’s stool—can cause panic. It is as nerve-wracking as waiting for the results of your first ultrasound. And through it all, you hope and pray everything is under control, holding onto the idea that “this child can face uncertain days because he lives.”
The Unsettling Power of Fear
But what happens when things spiral out of control? The Bible encourages us by saying, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:3).
Can you imagine sharing that verse with the parents of a sick child? It sounds absurd. But anything can feel terrifying when your child is unwell.
Watching my three-day-old daughter endure painful blood tests to monitor her bilirubin levels was gut-wrenching. I stood there helpless, haunted by her cries. It was such a vivid experience that it still stings, even nine years later. And that was only the beginning.
Meeting God When Your Child is Unwell
In a world of suffering, our hearts long for comfort. I wish for a life where my family is always healthy and happy. But life does not work that way.
Seven years ago, after a long battle with health issues, I lost my mother. The grief was not brief. It has lingered, reshaping my mind and heart. Now, even a simple fever in my children triggers fear. In my head, minor ailments often escalate to worst-case scenarios.
In these moments, my heart becomes restless, tears flow, and peace feels elusive. Yet, these times of suffering reveal the hidden idols of my heart—those things I unconsciously place above God. Like it or not, these trials have humbled and refined me. It is during the sleepless nights of sponging a feverish child that I have truly encountered God. That is where my relationship with him feels real, when I finally surrender my fears and find rest in his presence.
Learning from the Story of Jairus
The story of Jairus in Luke 8 resonates deeply with me. As a ruler of the synagogue, Jairus was an important man—wealthy, respected, and devout. But when his daughter was dying, he set aside his status, fell at the feet of Jesus, and begged for healing. A commentator noted, “Everybody in Capernaum knew Jairus, but no one knew he believed in Christ until his daughter was at the point of death. Then he confessed it.”
Like Jairus, I often desire a comfortable life. But comfort does not bring peace. Real peace emerges when we face terrifying situations. In such moments of vulnerability—like sitting beside a sick child with no answers—we experience genuine fellowship with Christ.
As parents, we do everything in our power to care for our children. We research schools, scrutinise food labels, and prepare for their future. But in moments of helplessness, when doctors struggle to diagnose an illness, it reminds us that we must look beyond ourselves for real help. We learn to place our trust in the one who holds our children and our future in his hands.
Trusting in the God Who Holds the Future
In difficult times, we feel compelled to surrender control and trust in God’s sovereignty. We come face to face with the reality that we are limited, but he is not. It is often through these experiences that our faith is strengthened, and we can feel the power of God at work within us.
When our children are unwell, it reminds us of God’s faithfulness and we find ourselves declaring his goodness to others. Through these trials, we experience his wonder-working power, and it revives our souls. We encourage others by sharing how we found hope and peace—not because our circumstances are perfect—but because he lives.
In the end, the calm assurance remains: “This child can face uncertain days because He lives.”
