O death, where is your sting? Humanly speaking we can all relate to the ache we feel when someone we love passes away. There is a sting. It is a pain that swells, rolls in, and then comes back in waves.
My Experience with Death
Five months ago I was surprised to learn I was expecting a baby, and four months ago my baby was taken to Heaven. The pain of that loss was excruciating. My miscarriage took my world and flipped it upside down.
Since then, I’ve found it difficult to look at newborn babies without a lump rising up in my throat, then comes a burn that only tears will extinguish. Part of me wonders if that will ever go away.
There are random things that will trigger my grief. While pregnant with each of my children I craved certain foods. With my son, I had a desire to eat sandwiches day in and day out. With my daughter, I craved pastrami sandwiches, I had to have them. Wouldn’t you know it, my son is a sandwich aficionado and my daughter is a pastrami lover. When I was pregnant with my baby, I craved root beer. I had to drink it at every meal. Now the thought of root beer brings heartache. It is little things like that that cause me to spiral into sadness.
I’ve gotten pretty good at internalizing my grief instead of sharing it with the outside world. I shrug away my heartbreak and keep it to myself because honestly, not many want to hear about it. Talking about it is painful to the listener. It can be uncomfortable for them and I get that. It is expected that I should move forward. After all, life goes on.
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy -Psalms 126:5 NLT Share on X
We Have Victory Over Death
Jesus has been my shoulder to cry on.
He has been my listening ear.
He has been my strength.
Jesus has been my comfort when the pain has been too much to bear. I’ve found solace in His word and in His promise that I will see my baby again one day.
“For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then when our dying bodies
have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?””
1 Corinthians 15:53-55 NLT
That which is corruptible will be made into something incorruptible. As we continue living here on this earth the sting of death is all too real but we have an awesome truth to look forward to. Our King is compassionate and loving. He collects all of our tears and He gives us a promise with hope and eternal weight.
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
Revelation 21:4 NLT
That soothes my soul.
If we can set our minds on things above it helps with the healing. For we aren’t really saying goodbye, instead it’s see you later.
Today on Salt & Light I’m featuring a post by Maree Dee from Embracing the Unexpected called “He Knows Your Pain”. She discusses the compassion our Lord has for us when we grieve and it serves as such a reminder of His love and grace.
Please make sure you read Maree Dee’s post here>>>
Natalie,
I am so sorry for your loss. I bet that pain was excruciating and continues to hurt. It is so hard when the world wants us to grieve on their terms. I wrote a post this week you might find helpful on hiding from our grief.
Thank you for sharing my post from last week.
Sending prayers for you!!
Blessings,
Maree
Thank you sweet Maree,
Your post touched me deeply and was such a blessed reminder of His love for me. Thank you for your willingness to be used by Him. It’s an honor to feature you : )
Natalie, I haven’t lost a baby and I cannot even begin to imagine your pain. I am sorry I haven’t checked in lately and asked about how you are handling. I have lost a lot in my childhood, and those pains regurgitate constant.
I internalized a lot ,but I know the Lord never meant to wound us with our griefs.
Jesus wept when He saw Natalie groaning within her soul..
Lots of love
You have been a dear friend Diana and I love you. Your encouragement has stood out to me in these past few months and I’m so very appreciative of you.
Thanks for your comments, everyone. I think Cindy would have liked reading them.
God bless you!
I understand this all too well. It’s hard when people can’t understand and be there for us the way we hope, but it is true that it roots our hope deeper in Jesus.
Sometimes I think God prefers it this way. That way we rely on Him to comfort us. He becomes our soul source instead of finding comfort in people. People will always let us down, but our God is faithful.
That familiar, challenging passage… I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-14, NIV) Many of us know this section of scripture, but it’s important for us to realize that the conversation doesn’t end there. What Paul says next is a game-changing statement: Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Yes! Amen! It is so very difficult to forget what is behind, but I have found that if I instead focus on what lies ahead then the hope washes away the sadness. Looking forward to inheriting that Heavenly prize.
Dear Katelin, God made you a beautiful, strong person, more so than you may feel right now. It took enormous strength to tell your story. God did not create you to just survive; He loves you so much and wants you to live abundantly. Give your burden to Him. Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29, NLT
I can’t imagine the emptiness felt after losing a child. There is so much loss all around us. How does the world do without hope? How would we do without God? Only by his grace!
This is a broken world we live in Lia but I’m not without hope. I KNOW with all my heart that I will meet my child one day. It’s one more reason that I long to be with the Lord.
Hi Natalie, thank you so much for sharing this. I went through a different kind of death when my only sibling was murdered. To say the pain was excruciating is an understatement! But. BUT! My the Father came to me in ways that I will never, ever forget! I am so grateful for our Constant God, that cradles us and cries with us! Thank you for sharing this!
Dewi, I’m so very sorry for your loss friend. I can’t even imagine that kind of pain. I’m so encouraged to here that God showed up for you in such a big way during such a devastating time. He’s just so good to us. Much love to you and I’m saying a prayer for you.