The Death of Children:
The death of a child is especially difficult for surviving parents and families. Death after such a short life span often produces feelings of guilt, melancholy, and a lot of questions. In addition to the foregoing "Helping Strategy," the following may be helpful:
1. Though we cannot know why the child died, we do know that children are especially precious to God. Referring to children, Jesus said, "Of such is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 19:14). Interpreted in the light of Scripture as a whole, this passage has led some scholars to believe that children who die are taken immediately into God's presence.
2. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior, we have the blessed hope of seeing our loved one again. When King David's child was taken from him in death, he said, "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23).
Scripture
"Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25–26).
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:1–3).
"For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1).
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. . . . For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:21, 23).
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3–5).
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:4). Other suggested Scriptures: Psalm 23:4–6
See also Death
GUILT
Background
When using the term guilt, people can mean one of two things: true guilt, or the guilty feelings that real or imagined guilt can produce.
True guilt, or sin, comes as a result of breaking God's Law. When the sinner is unwilling to face the issue squarely in God's way—in order to experience forgiveness—he or she suffers the consequences, both in this life and in eternity.
Feelings of guilt arise when our conscience tells us we have violated God's standards, when we wrongly think we have done so, or when we simply fail to measure up to our own expectations or the standards other people set for us.
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden provide an example of both real guilt and guilt feelings. Their sin (disobedience) resulted in real guilt. Their relationship with God was broken and they knew it, so guilt feelings followed. They ran from God, trying to hide so that they would not have to face the consequences of their behavior. When God found them, they tried to deny their guilt, with Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent. They tried to "cover up" their sin by making fig-leaf aprons, but God asked, "Who told you that you were naked?" (Genesis 3:11). By so doing He forced them to deal with their guilt feelings. Then, He dealt with their real guilt by killing an animal to make clothes for them, providing a "covering" or atonement for their sin (Genesis 3:21). In so doing He established the principle of sacrifice which would eventually lead to Christ's sacrifice of Himself on the cross.
Another illustration of dealing with real guilt is Nathan's openly confronting David with his sins of adultery and murder, thus opening the way for his repentance and confession (2 Samuel 11:1–12:25; Psalm 51).
Guilt feelings are often associated with emotional illness stemming from negative experiences, many times in childhood. Even Christians who have the assurance that God has forgiven them and that they are His children continue to suffer from "false guilt." Such people usually have a very low self-image, feelings of inadequacy (they can't do anything right or can't measure up), and suffer from depression. They cannot seem to find freedom from guilt even though they seek it, as in the case of Esau who "found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears" (Hebrews 12:17).