Death is a difficult part of our world. But perhaps one of the most painful losses to deal with is the death of a child. There is just something terribly unnatural when a parent has to bury their child. Let me recount to you the story of how one Christian family dealt with tragedy.

After being told they were physically unable to have children Ron and Doris adopted two little ones. Just a few months after the adoption Doris found out she was pregnant. They were overjoyed. They had prayed for children and now all of their hopes and dreams were coming true. But just hours after the birth it was discovered that the baby boy, Christopher, had a bad heart. He was quickly flown to one of the nation’s best hospitals and despite the valiant efforts of the doctors he died three days later.

How can one process pain like this? What comfort could there be for this Christian family? How would Ron and Doris make it?

The answer for these deeply religious people was in the Word of God. They discovered that in the Old Testament King David had gone through a similar situation. His child became seriously ill, and David and his wife went through a time of deep discouragement. The Scriptures record that David didn’t eat for days and spent many nights lying on the floor in deep depression. He was overwhelmed with pain and hurt. It was through this biblical account that Ron and Doris learned that grief is a natural part of processing pain. In fact, even Jesus cried at the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:25). So clearly the Bible teaches that tears and hurt are part of the natural, healthy, human response to loss.

But the greatest comfort for Ron and Doris was found at the end of David’s story. David makes a clear statement that offers hope to all who have lost little ones. Upon the death of his child David says, “Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23). Here David makes a great confession that although he will not see this child again in this life, he will be reunited with the baby in heaven. This simple Christian belief served to under gird and strengthen Ron and Doris through the darkest days of struggle. Where was Christopher? He was with the Lord, awaiting their heavenly reunion.