I lit each candle, whispering their names, and letting the tears fall.

The sweet smell of melting wax and smoke was both familiar and comforting. Yet the ache in my heart increased, as I looked at the row of flickering flames. Each candle for one of my little ones that I never got to see. Precious lives that were here for a moment and then lost.

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine who they would have been. Tried to imagine them with long lashes and a mess of curly hair, just like their siblings. Playing, and laughing, and throwing their little arms around my neck.

I felt great sorrow in this place. In this place of longing for God to breathe life into my womb. In this place of waiting. In this place of darkness.

But like the flicker of those tiny candles, I felt the glimmer of hope. Hope in the promises of Jesus. Hope in His goodness. It was a hope that lifted my tired head as I reached my hands up in praise. I would bless the Lord in this place because He is worthy, and I could trust that He would hold me. Trust that He would heal me. I could trust Him in the aching, in the sorrow, in the waiting.

This is my hope for you, dear sister. That in whatever you are going through, you will have the courage to hope. You will dare to step forward. You will dare to stand on His promises, even when you feel weak. He is with you. He is for you. He is hope fulfilled.

[bctt tweet="Trust Him in the aching, in the sorrow, in the waiting. // Leana Bowler" username="blessedisshe__"]

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