Surviving Sorrow: Devotions for Parents in MourningExemplo

Losing a child is a unique kind of sorrow. There really is nothing like it. Time, certainly, will not heal this wound. However, you can choose to do something about your pain. You didn’t have a choice when you lost your precious son or daughter—but you have a choice right now. 

I remember standing at the crossroad with this very same choice to make. Both choices were tempting. I could turn away from God and walk down the road of wrath and bitterness. I had enough pain and anger to make this very tempting. My child died from a simple case of strep throat in the United States of America in 2008. How could it be so? Wrath seemed appropriate for what had just shattered our family. 

Or, I could turn toward God and begin the long, ragged road of grieving next to the only God who promised many things to me. The promises were lovingly tended and secured through the ages in our Bible. The pages whispered longings for peace and joy. How could it be so? Peace and joy seemed entirely out of reach, but there they were in black and white. 

I chose God’s way. I chose the road of healing. It’s likely this road toward God is more difficult than the other way. This path of peace and joy is mostly out of your hands and into the Mighty Hand of God. Wrath and bitterness were familiar, and easier. I felt absolutely in control of where and when I could sling some of those around. The path toward God is on our knees, on our face, at the very end of ourselves. Complete and utter surrender to the Creator is where the road begins. 

Setting the life of your child, and all your other living children, your spouse, and yourself at the feet of Almighty God is the way to lessening the pain in your soul. After sobbing next to Him for a while, open your Bible and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the promises that will put some healing balm on your shattered and bleeding heart. Ask the Father to send the full measure of His Holy Spirit to provide the promised peace, God’s peace, beyond what you can imagine possible now that your child is gone. 

Today, you’ll find my “Top 10” favorite promises in Scripture to pour some peace over you and guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Just read what you can. Maybe copy one onto a notecard and tuck it in your pocket for times when those surprise meltdowns sneak up on you!