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One thing that has helped me is talking. Sharing your feelings with a sympathetic listener will make it easier to deal with. Or expressing your feelings in writing can be helpful. But the biggest thing that helped me is relying on God for strength. He knows what you're going through Kay; he feels the pain you feel. At Exodus 3:7 God said, "Unquestionably I have seen the affliction of my people... I have heard their outcry... I well know the pains they suffer." Also Isaiah 63:9 says, "During all their distress it was distressing to him."
Not only does he understand what we go through, but he promises to do something about it. The Bible calls death an enemy. Imagine that you are running from a vicious enemy who is much faster and stronger than you. You know he's merciless because you seen him kill some who are close to you. No matter how hard you try to outrun him, he keeps getting closer and there seem to be no hope. Suddenly a rescuer appears at your side that is more powerful than your enemy and promises to help you. Wouldn't you feel relieved? We're all being pursued by the enemy of death. We can't outrun it or fight it off. We've seen this enemy claim the life of those dear to us. But God is far more powerful than death. He is the Loving Rescuer and he promises to destroy death once and for all at 1 Corinthians 15:26 where it says, "As the last enemy, death is to be brought to nothing." That's great!
But what's even greater Kay is that he promises to bring back to life the victims of death. Can you imagine Kay welcoming back Terrell with arms wide open to a world where there is no pain, no sickness, no death, where there is true peace on a paradise earth and live forever and ever together and never having to part again. That's what God promises you and I. "It is impossible for God to lie."- Hebrews 6:18
This is what helped me and I hope it helped you. I wish to hear from you soon.
I hope all is well for you.
Can anything good be said about death? Death tears parents from children and children from parents. It separates close friends and brings insecurity to close-knit communities. When death strikes, a happy family may be overwhelmed with sadness.The Bible calls death an enemy. It likens death to a king who has ruled mankind. (Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 15:26) Death is an adversary of such power that no human can resist it, and every loved one who dies is just another of death’s uncountable victims. This Bible truth well accounts for the grief and helplessness we feel when a loved one dies. It confirms that those feelings are normal. Nevertheless, does God use the enemy death to carry off our loved ones to heaven? Let the Bible answer that question.
Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10 states: “As for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all . . . There is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, the place to which you are going.” What is Sheol? It is the common grave of mankind to which humans go when they die. In the grave the dead are completely inactive, without movement, sensation, or thought of any kind. They are in what can be likened to a deep sleep. The Bible thus makes it clear that God does not take our dead loved ones to be with him in heaven. The effects of death have left them lifeless in the grave.
Jesus confirmed this truth after his friend Lazarus died. Jesus likened death to sleep. If Lazarus had gone to heaven to be with Almighty God, Jesus’ bringing him back to earth eventually to die again would have been no kindness. The inspired account states that at the burial place, Jesus said in a loud voice: “Lazarus, come on out!” The Bible continues: “The man that had been dead came out.” Lazarus began life anew. Jesus knew that Lazarus had never left the earth. He had been lying lifeless in a tomb.—John 11:11-14, 34, 38-44.
This incident recorded in the Bible helps us to understand that death is not a means that God uses to transfer humans from earth to heaven. We can thus be drawn to God, knowing that he has not caused our sadness. We can also trust that he fully grasps the sorrow and damage that the enemy death causes us. And the Bible truth about the condition of the dead proves that the dead do not suffer in hellfire or purgatory but are lifeless in the grave. Thus, the memory of our loved ones need not be stained with revulsion toward God or with fear of the unknown. Moreover, in the Bible, Jehovah offers us additional comfort.At John 5:28, 29, Jesus said: “Do not marvel at this, because the hour is coming in which all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out.” This means that all the dead in Sheol, our loved ones included, will come back to life. Acts 24:15 reveals more about this grand event, stating: “There is going to be a resurrection of both the righteous and the unrighteous.” So even “the unrighteous,” many individuals who did not know and serve Jehovah, will get a future opportunity to gain God’s favor.
Where will this resurrection occur? Psalm 37:29 states: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” Think of what that means! Families and friends torn apart by death will again meet here on earth. As you think of enjoying good times with those whose companionship you once treasured, it is reasonable for your heart to swell with happiness.