Two and a Half Acres of FaithSample

Day 2: All I Want Is a Family:

Sterling and Jean Miller’s hearts brimmed with hope when they learned they were expecting their first child. For Jean, it was a lifelong dream finally coming true. She imagined every detail—the sound of a baby’s laughter in their home, the joy of watching Sterling hold their child for the first time, and the fulfillment of her deepest longing to become a mother. With each day of the pregnancy, their excitement grew. They envisioned a beautiful, healthy baby and the start of a family they had prayed for since their wedding day. Everything seemed to be falling into place.

But that dream was suddenly shattered when Jean suffered a miscarriage. The loss was devastating, not just because of the physical toll but because it felt like the death of the future they had dreamed of together. They clung to each other and to God, believing that this heartbreak would not be the end of their story. When Jean became pregnant again, hope cautiously returned. Perhaps this time, it would be different. Perhaps this time, their dream would finally come to life.

Yet again, they faced the unthinkable: another miscarriage. And then another. Over six years, they endured the heartbreak of eight pregnancies lost. The loss of their son Mathias, who was stillborn after months of cautious hope, was the most crushing blow of all. As they buried his tiny body, it felt like they were also burying their dreams. The weight of disappointment and grief was almost unbearable. How could they keep believing in God’s promises when every step forward seemed to end in devastation?

Their story reflects the heights of human hope and the depths of human sorrow. Yet even in their darkest moments, they clung to the belief that God was not finished. Jeremiah 29:11 reminded them that His plans were still good, that He still held their future in His hands, even when the present seemed unbearable. And Ecclesiastes 3:11 offered a quiet reassurance: though they couldn’t see how, God was working to bring beauty out of their pain.

When our dreams feel shattered, it’s tempting to believe that God has abandoned us. The waiting and the loss can feel endless, and the silence deafening. Yet Scripture tells us that God is always at work, even when we can’t see it. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us that His timing is perfect, and His plans are far more beautiful than we can fathom. It’s not that the pain isn’t real—it is—but God has a way of weaving hope and redemption into even the most broken stories.

The Millers’ story reminds us that waiting is not wasted time. Every loss and every disappointment brought them closer to the God who redeems all things. They didn’t give up, even when the weight of sorrow threatened to overwhelm them. Instead, they trusted that the God who had placed the dream of a family in their hearts would bring it to pass in His time.

Take time today to reflect on the dreams that feel out of reach or the losses that have left you questioning God’s plan. Where have you struggled to believe that beauty could come from your pain? Pray and surrender those dreams to God, asking Him to show you how He is working, even in the waiting. Trust that His plans for you are still good and that He is making everything beautiful in its time.

God’s faithfulness is not bound by our timelines or understanding. Even when it feels like the dream is dead, He is working behind the scenes, redeeming what feels lost and preparing something greater than we could ever imagine. Hold onto His promises, trusting that the beauty He brings will far outweigh the pain of the waiting.