God's Presence in the Loss of a Child: Finding Hope, Purpose and Comfort after the Death of a Loved One

by Bill Sanford

Overview

God's Presence in the Loss of  Child began as simple daily accounts of the author and his wife's trials and emotions and activities during the 12 days in which their daughter was alive and in the hospital, after her birth. Following her unexpected death and through the coming months and years, they began to see and experience God’s blessings and better understand some of HIS plan for their daughter's life and for them. This is a simple story of just how Bill and his wife, dealt with real life as it was quickly thrown at them early one morning in June of 1989. Hopefully, you too, will see just how good God was, and how gracious and merciful HE was to Bill and his wife during that traumatic time in their young lives, and the many years since then, as HE continues to bless them and encourage them as they seek HIS will for their lives. Their  prayer is that you too, might experience the same encouragement and strength that they did during that time and even today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781614487753
Publisher:	Morgan James Publishing
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Series:	Morgan James Faith Series
Pages:	100
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 6.80(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Bill Sanford. Graduated college in 1981 at Auburn University Building Science. Presently owner of Banner Industrial Construction Company which performs many types of Steel Construction, both Commercial & Industrial, as well as various other types of construction work. Enjoy hunting, traveling with family, college football and the outdoors. He also has enjoyed at church, working/teaching youth, college students and now presently, pre-teen students. First time writer.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Prologue: The Roller Coaster Ride
Stephanie’s Story
Epilogue: May God Bless You Richly While on This Earth
Acknowledgments
About the Author

Editorial Reviews

The loss of a child is one of life’s most painfully difficult experiences. Even in such loss and personal grief, there is hope for the future. Perhaps you have undergone a similar experience and need a resource to “get you through”. In the pages of God’s Presence in the Loss of a Child, you will find comfort, encouragement and hope, but most importantly, an example of how God’s love can provide the healing you so desire in your life at this time. This little book can make a big difference in the rest of your life! —Topper Reid, Vice President, Church Strengthening Division, Unlimited Partnerships?

No one can identify with the depth of the pain of losing a baby like someone else who has also experienced the death of an infant. If you have suffered the unutterable tragedy of burying your baby, reading the story of Bill and Melanie Sanford's loss of their precious newborn Stephanie may bring you much-needed comfort, not because of what they found in themselves, but because of what they found in God in the most difficult moment of their lives. —Don Whitney, Associate Professor of Biblical Spirituality, Senior Associate Dean for the School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Bill Sanford’s tender account of the turmoil and eventual loss of their precious newborn daughter, Stephanie, is a story filled with love and hope, despite the deep confusion and sorrow they experienced. The basis for this hope? God’s grace, and God’s grace alone. Here’s a story that magnifies God in showing him to be the only adequate source of comfort, strength, hope and faith in a time of deep human loss. Praise be to God that no trial is too great for God’s wisdom and strength, and no sorrow too deep that his love and care cannot penetrate. As Bill says over and again, because God is in control and God is good, we can know his wise purposes are being accomplished even through the trials and losses of life. Here is true hope, indeed. —Bruce A. Ware, Professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

God’s Presence in the Loss of a Child, is an account of a remarkable child and a grieving father. In this moving book, Bill Sanford reveals the heart of a grieving father and the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the testimony of a believer, tested by fire, and a tribute to the sanctity of human life and the power of Christ in the midst of unspeakable loss. —R. Albert Mohler Jr., President Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, J.T. English, Director of Theological Research, Office of the President

This is a hard book to read, especially for a parent. In this personal testimony we hear from Bill and Melanie Sanford about what it means to lose a child. But, more than that, we hear their witness as to how God is faithful to his children. —Russell D. Moore, President Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention

Bill Sanford is an incredible Christian man with an incredible Christian story to tell. This book, God’s Presence in the Loss of a Child, is straight from his heart to the reader's heart. It will prove to be encouraging reading for all, especially those who are grieving the loss of a loved one or are seeking to minister to someone who has. —Jason K. Allen, Ph.D., President Midwestern Baptist, Theological Seminary & College

This story of the death of Stephanie Sanford at twelve days old is told with as much tenderness and gentleness as the parents' all too short embrace of this child must have been. This is not only a riveting story, told with clarity and emotional immediacy, but is a lesson in how divine Providence, the secret operations of sustaining grace, and the liveliness of the word of God sustained Bill and Melanie Sanford and an entire church family in a twelve day life-or-death drama that Bill describes so graphically in the image of a roller coaster. God's glory shines through in Bill's pointing to Scripture and to the glory of Christ and the goodness of God interleaved through every moment of the quickly shifting scenes from hope to unknowing. We learn from this that all gifts are from God and he only takes from us that which he himself already has given. Our sense of loss is only possible because it was preceded by a sense of the overwhelming goodness of God in the bestowal of blessings. This book is a faithful testimony from a parent that has clearly been the object of tender mercies. It will be a great encouragement to many. —Tom J. Nettles, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

From the Publisher