This is a question that is near to my heart because my wife and I lost a daughter about 1 ½ years ago.  I can tell you that it was probably the hardest and most heart-breaking event in our lives.  I’m sure you will agree with that.  As has been said many times, “A parent should not have to bury their child.”  I can tell you how we handled our grief and hopefully that will be a help to you. 

We were very thankful and comforted by the fact that our daughter was a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ.  We were comforted by the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:8 which says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”  We were thankful to know that our daughter is now in the presence of the Lord.  Along with that, we found comfort knowing that in the presence of the Lord, she is experiencing joy unspeakable.  Psalm 16:11 tells us, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: IN THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” These thoughts did not immediately take away our grief, but they certainly made it easier to bear. 

We were also helped by reading 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”  This does not say that we will not grieve, but our grief is different from those who must grief the loss of an unsaved child.  Our daughter was saved, so WE KNOW that we will see her again one day!  That was such an encouragement to us!

One person I read about said they took comfort knowing their departed loved one was with the Lord, but they just wished they were still here with them.  I understood that feeling completely.  We sure wish our daughter was still here with us, but realizing she is with the Lord gives us great comfort and strength.  During the time of our greatest grief, we clung to our blessed “God of all comfort” as we read in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, THE FATHER OF MERCIES, and THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT; WHO COMFORTETH US in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.”  What a comfort He was in our grief!  My wife and I were remarking one evening that we thought we would be grieving harder and longer than what we were undergoing.  We realized we were experiencing what we read about in Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”  That peace of God, which is beyond understanding, was working in our hearts to heal and comfort us.

I am resisting the urge to say, “I know how you feel” because I know that each case is different.  I trust you are looking to the Lord to give you the comfort and peace you need. If your child was a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you are too, you will see your child again one day.  If your child was a believer, they are with the Lord and experiencing joy they could never have while on the earth.  Rejoice for them!  While you mourn your loss and miss your precious child…rejoice for them!  Your redeemed child is already in the place all believers long to be.  Paul, the apostle said in Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and TO DIE IS GAIN.”  He also spoke of being with the Lord as being “far better”. (Philippians 1:23).

It is natural to grieve for your loved one.  However, the Lord will bring you through this grief.  He will comfort you, strengthen you, and give you His peace when you cast this care upon Him.  I am so sorry for your great loss and pray you will allow the Lord to minister to you in your grief.  (CC)  (547.6)