Why Does God Take Babies? Founding Selah Member Child Dies
Posted: Friday, May 30, 2008
by Abigail Richards
The news in the Christian world remains in shock as yet another Christian artist loses a child. Ten-week old Gregory Luke Sponberg died May 27, he was the son of former Selah singer, Nicol Sponberg. This comes seven weeks after her brother Todd Smith of Selah lost his daughter Audrey. This also comes a week after another Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman lost his daughter in a tragic accident at their family home.
According to a blog by Angie Smith(Todd's wife), Nicol Sponberg went to check on her son around nine at night and found him not breathing. Paramedics were called but unable to bring him back.
Lately it seems, in my own life, a season of loss. A loss of babies that leave behind heartbroken parents left asking why. A few weeks ago in our small group, our leader asked if you could ask God anything and receive an immediate answer-what would it be.
The number one question was why do bad and hurtful things happen to children. Why do they die at young ages because of abuse, cancer, anything? Since that time, two friends have lost a child.
Why, God?
We remind ourselves that they are in a better place, we should be grateful for the time we had with them, that God is holding them, that He is omnipotent and good will come out of any situation, but our hearts still ache.
I think this is a loss that never goes away until that moment we are reunited with God. So the answer isn't an answer we will have until then. We just wait in faith that God is in control. I pray for those who go through this horrible hurt without a relationship with God. I pray for those who do have him and face this horrible hurt.
It is a surreal experience that I can't imagine facing. God, please be with those families during this time of need and for the years to come as they try to overcome this loss.
Those interested in reading about Todd Smith's daughter and their process of dealing with the loss of their child, please visit Angie Smith's blog at http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/
There are specific prayer request for the Sponberg family as well at the blog.
God, be with these families. Bring them comfort, peace, a supernatural understanding and healing. In your son's precious name, Amen .
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Hi Abigail, this is a tough question. One that theologically makes perfect sense: we live in a fallen world, we are all subject to death. Christians aren't ammuned to hardship..and on and on. But when these truth's are played out in real life, theology goes out the window and what we have to hold onto is our faith and trust, knowing that God is gracious. Thanks for the reminder that We need to be praying for the peace and comfort of those who have lost loved ones. Christian or not. Blessings to you! Teresathanks Teresa for such kind words!
this article was a great read
Abigail,This is the first time I have read your work. Our praise team at St. Matthew UMC sings a lot of Selah's music, and I personally have enjoyed their artistry when Nicol was with them, and now that Amy is.It is so difficult to answer a question like this. If we believe, as Jesus did, that our heavenly Father would not offer a serpent to a child who asked for a fish, or a stone to a child who asked for a loaf of bread, then we know that our God is truly good. As flesh and blood we are so limited! We hurt for one another. And I'm sure that all of the friends who know not only Nicol and the other Christian artists who have lost children ache for them. We do, indeed, see life now, to quote Paul, "as through a mirror dimly." Why did these Christian artists' children die? That cannot be answered either. There are always the medical issues behind a child's death, such as in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or miscarriages. As a dad and husband I believe that if a child dies of S.I.D.S. or another similar illness, then the child was not viable. As a believer and pastor, I know that God will welcome these children into his glory and bring healing to their parents, as hard as that may be. We can trust that God is good. We can pray for one another. And most of all we can offer Christian love and support.Rev. Chris Madison
Thanks for this article, its really touching. The one thing I want to say is that God may found that at this time those people would be save, so He took them. If we could understand why God do stuff but... That what make Him a awesome God! Thanks again
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