Austin's Blog

In the midst of profound grief, especially the heart-wrenching loss of a child, it’s easy to feel isolated, as if the world has moved on while we remain frozen in our sorrow. Yet, as we navigate this painful journey, we find solace in the profound truth of our connection to our children through Christ.

Puritan pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards once wrote, “When a saint dies, he has no cause at all to grieve because he leaves his friends and relations that he dearly loves, for he does not properly leave them. For he enjoys them still in Christ.” This beautiful assurance reminds us that even in death, the bonds of love are not severed. Our children, though physically absent, remain deeply connected to us in Christ. Everything we cherished in them—our love, our memories, their laughter—exists eternally in Him, magnified and perfect in ways we cannot yet comprehend. As I draw near to Christ, I am spiritually, mystically, and truly near to my child as well who is under His watch and care until I arrive.

In our moments of despair, it can be comforting to remember that our pain is not something we bear alone. Peter Leithart reassures us, saying, “Whatever afflictions you suffer, whatever pain, whatever loss, whatever weakness, Jesus has claimed that too. It all belongs to Him. Jesus doesn’t just want the best parts of you, the strong and healthy members. Jesus claims every last bit of you, even – especially – your weaknesses. He claims them, so let Him have them, and know that your afflictions are Christ’s afflictions working out in your flesh.”

Our grief is a part of our journey that Christ intimately understands. He does not desire only the strength and joy within us; rather, He claims every aspect of our lives, including our deepest sorrows. Through our suffering, we can find a profound connection—not just to our lost children but to Christ Himself, who takes on our pain and transforms it into something redemptive. He invites us to lay our burdens at His feet, assuring us that our afflictions are not meaningless; they are a part of His own suffering that works within us.

As we navigate this difficult path of child loss, the Christian parent should lean into the truth that our children are still a part of our lives through Christ, and that in our grief, we are intimately held and understood by Him. Though we mourn the absence of their physical presence, we can find comfort in the unbreakable connection we share, knowing that love endures beyond death and that Christ is ever present in our pain.