WordPress and Google work together to show me which Google searches lead people to my blog. I thought it would be fun to dig through some of the search terms that brought people here and explore some answers to their questions.
If the popularity of all of the Heaven books has taught us anything, it’s that people are hungry for knowledge of what Heaven will be like. I doubt that any human being is more interested in Heaven than a parent who has a child there. I’m not sure if the sweet mama who asked Google this question has lost a child, or if she’s just thinking about what would happen if she did lose one. But, either way, I think her question is valid and worth looking into.
First of all, we know that God loves children. In His word, He calls them blessings and rewards, and Jesus welcomed children into His presence and even His arms during His ministry on Earth. (Psalm 127:3-5, Matthew 18:2-6) God shows a tenderness toward children throughout Scripture, and He even tells us that we should have faith like a child. (Matthew 18:3)
Secondly, we know that Heaven is real and that it is a place that is specially prepared for us (and our children). (John 14:2-3) If He, in His wisdom, is preparing a place for our children, that place will not lack anything that they need.We can trust that things in Heaven are perfect in a way that they cannot be on Earth. In Heaven, sin is no more, time is irrelevant, and there are no tears. So, even though the Bible doesn’t specifically tell us, sweet mothers, if our children will need us in Heaven, we can know beyond any doubt that they most certainly will not need us. God is sufficient for us, and He is sufficient for our children.
But, this knowledge is a real dilemma for us. Because as much as we want our children to be okay without us, somehow it adds to our sadness to think that our children could forget about us in Heaven. There is plenty of evidence in scripture that we will know each other in Heaven. When Jesus appears to His disciples after His death, they recognized Him. When He takes Peter, James, and John to the Mount of Transfiguration in Matthew 17, the men saw Elijah and Moses appear beside Jesus. And, they knew who Elijah and Moses were, even though they had never seen them before. So, it stands to reason that we will surely recognize our dearest loved ones in Heaven.
Our relationships will be different. Our children won’t need us like they do on Earth. But, I believe we will know them, and they will know us. I like the way John Piper explains the change in the nature of our relationships in Heaven. He was asked about marriage, and how we will relate to our spouses in Heaven. He simply answered, “Whatever marriage is here on Earth, it will be infinitely better in Heaven.”
I think the same is true of our relationships with our children. We can trust that they will be taken care of in our absence, and we can trust that when we are reunited, it will be infinitely better than we can imagine. As the Bible tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:9: “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ — the things God has prepared for those who love him–“
We know His character. We can trust His promises. And, we can trust Him with our children, in this life and in the next.
This is such a sweet post! I lost my mum to cancer last year and I would love to meet her again in Heaven and give her a looooong hug! I’m sharing!!!! 😉
Daniela, so sorry about your mom! It’s wonderful to live in the hope of Christ. Thanks so much for sharing!
There is no age in heaven. So children won’t need grownups to take care of them in heaven. But if our children can look down and see us, then they will know that we miss them and love them. Someday I will meet my child but until then I trust that my little one is in my heavenly Father’s care.
I know my son won’t need me the same way he did here on earth. I’m just glad the very next time I see him, I will never need to say ‘goodbye’ again.