In September 2023, I had my third baby, Evangeline. I’d had a healthy pregnancy and delivery, and so it was absolutely terrifying when 24 hours after birth, Evangeline began to seizure and stopped breathing. She went into septic shock and we spent an unexpected three weeks with her fighting for her life in the NICU, and seven weeks total in the hospital. It was brutal, and Jesus was with us.
One day I sat next to her, listening to my audio Bible, and heard a familiar verse: He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows. It was a lifeline, because Evangeline was too heavy. But if Jesus had carried our sorrows on the cross, this was included. So I grabbed a sticky note + wrote: Surely He has borne THIS grief and carried THIS sorrow.
It became my mantra, clutched to my chest, whispered at every pain. I chewed on it, swallowed it into heart + mind, digested it into soul-medicine, and knew it as my savior.
When news of brain damage crushed me: He has borne this grief.
When her 6th spinal tap failed: He has carried this sorrow.
When her PICC line broke: He has borne this grief.
When Junie screamed for mama to come home: He has carried this sorrow.
Over & over, I faced a great pain, but I didn’t hold it. Jesus had already borne it, and I gave it to Him. And one day I realized…here was Jesus. I had been searching for Him, expecting to find Him with healing + light. But who I found was the man of sorrows, and He didn’t meet me with an apologetic about suffering; He met me with Himself. Emmanuel, God with us, and I knew we were loved.
You can read more of Evangeline's miraculous story on my Instagram page, @kristindurandesigns.
This is a print of my original alcohol ink Bible verse wall art, printed on heavyweight cardstock with cardboard backing for safe protection. Size 11x14, unframed
