If God, Why Miscarriage?

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“I have your baby.”

God quietly whispered these words to my tender heart as I sat in my living room, puffy-eyed the morning after my first miscarriage.

I had always heard that babies go to heaven, but if I was honest with myself, I questioned if that was just something people said to make themselves feel better.

I hadn’t given it much further thought until then, as I was losing a baby of my own. But as I sat in shock over my empty womb, suddenly knowing the answer to this question and others related to miscarriage from a biblical perspective became vitally important. Putting off seeking answers to these questions was no longer an option. Miscarriage had become my reality, and along with it, my realization of how little I knew about what the Bible says regarding pregnancy loss.

Miscarriage raises many big questions about God even for the most seasoned believers. If you are wondering what the Bible actually says about pregnancy loss, you are in good company. While I in no way claim to have all the answers, my ultimate goal is to point you to the One who does as we unpack some of the most common questions that arise with pregnancy loss.

What the Bible Says About Pregnancy Loss

When I was facing infertility for three years, finding women in the Bible who could relate to my struggle was relatively simple. There was Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Samson’s unnamed mother, Hannah, and Elizabeth. Though admittedly there isn’t much more than a mention for some of these, it was comforting to know women of God in Scripture shared my pain.

But what about miscarriage? While it is possible pregnancy loss was a part of these women’s stories, there is no specific mention of it. Some might speculate that miscarriage stories are not found in Scripture because it was considered culturally shameful. Others might suggest that it’s because the Bible was authored solely by men. Whatever the reason, this lack of relatable experiences with pregnancy loss in the Bible can add to the confusion and spiritual silence on the matter.

Any reference to miscarriage in the Word is found in the Old Testament within the context of blessings and curses. For example, in Exodus 23:25-26 the Lord offers a blessing to the Israelites saying,

Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.

Whereas in Hosea 9:14, due to the disobedience of the Israelites, the prophet suggests:

Give them, O Lord—what will you give? Give them a miscarrying womb and dry breasts.

While these passages that take place before the time of Jesus are important in their context, we know now that those who are in Christ do not stand condemned. As Christians, we are not cursed, but we may still suffer the tragedy of miscarriage.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. — Romans 8:1

So what can we know about pregnancy loss today from a biblical standpoint? Thankfully, God does not leave us with nothing. Despite the lack of explicit miscarriage examples in Scripture, the Lord does offer us insight into some of the most common questions about miscarriage and peace for the ones we can’t answer.

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7 Common Questions About Miscarriage

For many people, the first question to come to mind when it is found out that they or someone they care about has miscarried is why?

Why miscarriage? Why does it even exist? Why me? Why my baby? Why didn’t God stop it? Why didn’t He answer my prayers?

While we may never know specifically why any given miscarriage happens, there are some things we can know with confidence.

1. Does God Cause Miscarriage?

God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Creator of life, new life, and eternal life. He does not cause death, but instead, death exists because we live in a fallen world.

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. — ‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭13‬‬‬

Surely God will not act wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice. — Job‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬‬

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. — 1 John‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬

When we look at the first man and the first woman, Adam and Eve, who committed the first sin, we see a reflection of humanity—all humans have done what they did. We have eaten from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and taken the ability to decide what is right and wrong into our own hands rather than trusting it in the hands of our Holy and Loving God.

Because the result of sin is death, when sin entered the world, death followed and along with it things like chromosomal abnormalities, hormonal imbalances, infections, disease, etc.

Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. —James‬ ‭1‬:‭15‬‬‬

Thus, we have confidence that God does not cause miscarriage, but the fallen state of our world unfortunately does.

2. Does God Allow Miscarriage?

Scripture tells us God is sovereign. That means He is all-powerful. Because of this, we can deduce that though the Lord does not cause death, He does allow it. And while that alone may raise many questions about God’s goodness, stay with me. We’ll get to that. But first, let’s talk about why this is important.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. — Colossians 1:16

Some people believe God neither causes nor allows miscarriage. While that may sound comforting at face value, when we really consider what this implies, we may find it offers less comfort than we thought. If God neither caused nor allowed any given pregnancy loss, this would imply that miscarriage is out of God’s control, that He couldn’t stop it, and that there was nothing He could do.

But what comfort do we have in a powerless God? Why would we bring any prayer to a God unable to stop death? Why would we hope in the future if the Lord had limits?

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. — Jeremiah 32:17

Thankfully, Scripture assures us of God’s sovereignty so we can put our hope in Him even in the midst of tragedy. God is able, but why He allows specific sufferings we may never know this side of heaven.

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! — Romans 11:33

3. Is God Still Good In the Face of Pregnancy Loss?

If you are in agreement with me thus far that God does not cause miscarriage, but He does allow it, then the natural next question you may be thinking is: How is God still good in the midst of pregnancy loss… or any suffering for that matter?

Thankfully, with Jesus, death does not have the final word (John 11:25-26). God may allow suffering for reasons unbeknownst to us, but He will not leave you there. He is with you always (Deut. 31:6, Matt. 28:20b). He weeps with you and heals you (John 11:33-35). He refines and strengthens your faith (Rom. 5:3-5, Jas. 1:2-4). He brings beauty from ashes. He works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). He redeems and restores. And He is making everything new (Rev. 21:5).

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. — Isaiah‬ ‭61‬:‭1‬-‭3‬

Though this does not take away from the hurt of losing a child, it gives us hope for the future and comfort in our grieving as we dwell in the presence of our good and gracious Father who loves us deeply.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. — Psalm 107:1

A redemption story may not necessarily include another baby, but God can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good in ways beyond what you can ask, think, or imagine. He can use any situation to grow us into the image of Christ as He gives us the thing our hearts long for and need the most… Himself.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. — Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭21

4. Is Miscarriage a Punishment From the Lord?

When seeking answers to the “why” questions, it’s not uncommon to land here. We either don’t want to blame God, or we know He’s not the One to blame anyway, but our flesh seeks something or someone to hold responsible to make sense of our suffering. And sometimes that someone is ourselves.

But, as mentioned previously, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1) When we put our full faith in Jesus, God no longer sees us, but His Son in us. God does not allow miscarriage as punishment for His children. He is not holding our past against us, whatever it may hold. When we repent before God, His forgiveness is immediate.

This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. — 1 John 4:17-18

God delights in us, not because of anything we’ve done to deserve Him, but because of who He is. God is love (1 John 4:8, 16).

We may not always know why miscarriage happens, but we can be sure that it is never God’s punishment on those who are in Christ.

For he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men. — Lamentations 3:33

5. Does God Hear Our Prayers?

After two miscarriages and the loss of my Dad within eight months, I wrestled with this question. I know God hears my prayers, but I wondered if maybe He didn’t hear all of my prayers. Are there some prayers God doesn’t listen to? Does He pick and choose? What are the criteria for having our prayers heard?

But Scripture tells us this,

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. — John 9:31

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. — 1 Peter 3:12

If you are counting up your wrongdoings and thinking you don’t belong in the category of “righteous,” take heart.

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. — Romans 3:22-24

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” — Galatians 3:11

As followers of Christ, we are righteous by faith, not by works. God listens to our prayers. He may have answered them differently than we asked, bringing healing in heaven rather than earthside, but we can be confident that the Lord lends His listening ear to our earnest requests.

6. Do Unborn Babies Really Go to Heaven?

This is one of those things we may often hear, but few people can readily supply the verses to support it. After all, Scripture tells us we are saved through repentance and belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But what about babies who lack the capacity to hear or understand the Gospel? What evidence do we have of their salvation?

Consider the following verses.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” — Matthew 19:14

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. — Psalm 22:9-10

… he [John the Baptist] will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. — Luke 1:15b, annotation mine

These verses suggest that the Spirit dwells with the unborn and points us toward God’s care and salvation for babies and little children not yet able to comprehend the Gospel. The Lord loves our babies even more than we do.

Further, after the loss of his newborn, David says,

But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me. — 2 Samuel 12:23

David suggests that he will see his child again, but not on this side of heaven. This offers hope to bereaved parents of pregnancy and infant loss that we, too, will see our children again in the Kingdom of Heaven.

7. Does the Pain of Losing a Child Ever End?

Ever since I had my first miscarriage, it seems any woman who can relate has said the same thing,

“You will always grieve the child you lost.”

Though grief often comes in waves and changes in both frequency and intensity over time, on some level, it is not uncommon to grieve the loss of a child as long as we are on earth.

But God.

‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. — Revelation 21:4

God offers those who have put their faith in His Son an eternity without pain or crying or suffering. He is making all things new.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. — Romans 8:18

What we endure here on earth is but a blink in light of eternity. This is the short part, the hard part. And while that does not minimize the pain or the importance of the life that was lost, it does give us great hope.

In time, as we continue to draw near to Christ, the sting of death will lessen. We won’t need to fake smiles, decline baby shower invites, step out during worship, or dread Mother’s Day.

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. — 2 Corinthians 5:1-7

Our present pain and suffering are reminders that it wasn’t supposed to be this way. That we are but temporary residents in a fallen world. So we walk by faith, with our eyes fixed on Jesus and eternity with Him in heaven because we believe the glory days are ahead of us… and they will last forever.

A Biblical Groundwork

While there is still much left to mystery regarding pregnancy loss, and I can’t speak to each individual scenario, I hope this post has helped lay the groundwork for a biblical view of God and miscarriage.

We may not have all the answers we long for, but what we can know is that the Lord is the same faithful and loving God of the Bible yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He is the Wise Judge. His ways are above our ways and His thoughts above our thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). He sees things we can’t.

He works all things together for our good. He brings beauty from ashes. He redeems and restores. We trust Him because we trust His character. We’ve tasted and seen His goodness. We’ve heard testimonies of His redemption. We’ve read about His love in the Word.

After thousands upon thousands of years in a world filled with suffering and loss, people are still worshipping God. People are still standing on the Word of God. People are still believing God is good and compassionate and merciful. And while those things may be hard to grasp in the thick of our own turmoil, maybe at the very least they can prompt our hearts to consider that there is a reason why.

Pregnancy and infant loss are hard, but they are harder alone. Please reach out should you ever need support in any way.