Losing a parent is everyone’s greatest fear, particularly at a young age. Unfortunately, not all of us are lucky enough to see our parents grow old; some pass away at a young age and the grief and sorrow left behind, sometimes never goes away.

Anyone who has lost a parent knows that the sense of emptiness and overwhelming grief cannot be put into words. With the COVID-19 pandemic, many people who have lost their parent or parents to this awful virus are now seeking comfort and relief from their sorrow.

The five stages of grief

Grief is a process—a very complex process—but one that all humans have to experience at some point or the other. Experts have identified that there are five stages of grief, they go as follows:

Denial

Denial, when linked to grief, has been misinterpreted for many years. Denial was first focused on the person who was dying, instead of the loved ones experiencing the loss. Denial is the disbelief that your loved one has gone forever. You fail to understand and accept that they will no longer be around. Denial, however, is a very important part of the process. It helps you cope and survive the tragedy.

Anger

Anger is the second stage of grief, and it’s an essential step to healing from this traumatic event. Those who lose their parent, at a young age, in particular, feel overwhelming anger.

Anger often masks pain, but it also means that you’re processing the grief you feel. Anger is an affirmation that you did, in fact, love and care about the person dearly.

Bargaining

Bargaining is the internalized arguments we have with ourselves to justify what happened. In some cases, people even end up blaming themselves for not taking a particular decision sooner. Bargaining helps you move your thoughts from grief and anger, but it also helps you realize that your loved one has passed away.

Depression

Once you realize what has happened, the emptiness sets in. This depressive state feels like it will never end, and it can be a very slippery slope too. Many people require grief counseling to help them out of this stage.

Acceptance

Acceptance is the last and final stage of grief. Here you begin to finally believe and accept that your loved one is truly gone, and that you need to navigate life without them. While acceptance is a good thing, it doesn’t come easily.

Believe in the power of prayer

We focus all our time and energy to pray for our parents’ long life, but after they’re gone, we turn away from prayer. It’s essential to stay devout in your faith and prayer even after they have passed away to give ourselves the strength to move on and to pray for their souls too. Prayer can be very comforting during this time, so despite the anger you feel toward the situation, take some time out to pray.

Visit Bible Issues to find spiritual guidance in this difficult time. Our website has plenty of Bible study tools and resources. We list daily Bible verses, audio sermons, and articles that strengthen your faith. All these resources are available free online. You can also download free chapters of our books I Kissed Waiting Goodbye: 8 Myths that keep Christian Single and Small Devil, Big God, 8 Myths that keep Christians in Bondage and join our Facebook group to join our community.