Is God Punishing Me for My Past?

I get enough emails on this topic that I knew it was time to talk about it in a deeper way. Some of you are wrestling with a haunting question that you may not even dare to say out loud:

Did God allow my child to die as a punishment for something I did—or didn’t do?

Let me say this as clearly and firmly as I can:

No. God is NOT punishing you.

I can say that with confidence, and I want to share why — and help you finally find peace if you’ve been asking yourself, “Is God punishing me for my past?”

Suffering Is Not the Same as Punishment

The Bible gives us so many examples showing that suffering is not a sign of God’s punishment.

• John the Baptist was beheaded in his 30s, and yet Jesus said no prophet was greater than him (John 14:3–12).
• When Jesus healed the blind man in John 9, people asked, “Who sinned? This man or his parents?” Jesus said, “Neither.”
• Job was called blameless by God, yet he lost all 10 of his children and suffered immensely.
• Mary, the mother of our Savior, watched her perfect, sinless son be executed on a cross.

If suffering equals punishment, then Jesus’ death was pointless. But we know it wasn’t. He came to take on all the punishment—past, present, and future. That’s the gift of the cross.

Yes, we all deal with consequences in this life. If I speed, I might get a ticket or worse. But poverty, sickness, and suffering? These things are part of our fallen, broken world. The rain falls on the just and the unjust.

If God were punishing people by taking their children, we would see people dropping dead all around us because their parent messed up. That’s not how God works.

The World Is Violent—God Is Not

I watched a fascinating interview between Eugene Peterson (the translator of The Message Bible) and Bono from U2. One thing Bono said really stuck with me: “God isn’t a violent God, but the world is a violent place.”

We live in a broken world. And though your child’s death is tragic, it is not God’s punishment for anything you’ve done. If you’ve been carrying that weight, I invite you to lay it down at the foot of the cross — and stop asking yourself in pain, “Is God punishing me for my past?”

Let’s Talk About Guilt

Guilt comes in all kinds of forms. Maybe you feel like you should have said or done something differently. Sometimes what we call guilt is actually regret.

But I want to talk about a different kind of guilt—the kind where you feel responsible for something your child did.

A mom once emailed me about her son who died in a car accident. He crossed the center line, and not only did he lose his life, but so did two others. She was devastated and overwhelmed with guilt—not just for his death, but for what he had done.

But here’s the truth: it was an accident. No matter what caused it—distraction, fatigue, recklessness—it was not intentional. That’s what makes it an accident.

And it was not this mother’s fault. She wasn’t driving. She wasn’t even in the car. And yet she felt like she didn’t have the right to grieve her own son’s death as deeply as the parents who lost their daughter and unborn grandchild.

If this sounds familiar, I want to say something straight to your heart:

You do have the right to grieve your child—no matter the circumstances.

Your grief is real. It’s valid. And you are allowed to cry, to scream, to ache.

Sometimes we hold on to guilt as a way to “pay” for our pain, thinking it makes our grief more acceptable. But sometimes that guilt is actually masking a deeper guilt—the guilt of letting ourselves grieve.

Let me ask you this: If your close friend’s child caused an accident like this, would you tell her she was a bad mom? Would you say she should feel guilty? Of course not.

You would probably wrap your arms around her, offer compassion, and remind her that what happened wasn’t her fault.

So why do you believe this about yourself? Your child’s death, no matter how it happened, is a devastating loss. And your right to grieve is not dependent on the circumstances. Remember this when guilt creeps in and whispers, “Is God punishing me for my past?”

Releasing Guilt That Isn’t Yours

I watched a TED Talk by the mother of one of the Columbine shooters. Her son killed twelve students and a teacher before taking his own life. The world shamed her: “How could you not know?” She took on that guilt for years.

Eventually, she realized that what her son did was not her fault. And now, she speaks out for greater awareness of mental illness.

Like her, it’s okay for you to let go of guilt that doesn’t belong to you.

Maybe in your head you already know this… but your heart hasn’t caught up yet. So let this truth settle into your soul:

Jesus already took your guilt. Before you were born. Before your child was born. He carried it all to the cross—your sin, your shame, your guilt—and paid the price in full.

You may be asking God to take away your guilt, but He already has. The gift is waiting. Now it’s your turn to accept it.

A better prayer might be:

“Lord, help me accept the gift of freedom that You’ve already given. Help me release this guilt that isn’t mine to carry. Help me walk in the freedom that You died to give me.”

Freedom Is Already Yours

If Christ is in you, then freedom is in you. We often think of that in relation to sin, but let’s go a step deeper.

Unforgiveness is a sin. And isn’t guilt often a form of not forgiving yourself?

I’m not saying this to heap more guilt on you. I’m saying it to give you another reason to let yourself off the hook.

You Are Not Being Punished

Let’s circle back to where we began:

You are not being punished.

God is not angry with you. He hasn’t turned His back on you.

If you’re struggling with guilt—over your child’s death, your parenting, or a thousand imagined “what ifs”—Jesus sees it. He carried it. He is offering you peace.

Reach out and take it.

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NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 301. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

You can grieve while holding on to grace. And that means letting go of guilt.

If this touched your heart, I encourage you to share it with another grieving parent who may be quietly asking the same questions.

And if you’d like more encouragement, I’ve created a free resource called 10 Tips to Overcome Guilt. You can download below.

Remember: It’s okay to grieve while holding on to grace.

If you would like to join thousands of other bereaved parents receiving a weekly word of hope delivered to your inbox, let us know below.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.
To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

When Dads Grieve: A Conversation on Faith, Family, and Holding On

I heard something recently that struck a deep chord in me: God does not call us to the outcome. He calls us to faithfulness. When Dads Grieve A Conversation on Faith Family and Holding On.

That truth, shared by Dave in their conversation, set the tone for a heartfelt and honest dialogue between two grieving fathers, (Matt and Dave) who both know the pain of losing a child. They came from different circumstances: one a military loss, one after a long-term illness. But the emotions, the questions, and the faith they wrestled with were profoundly similar. 

Different Losses, Shared Pain

Dave reflected on the unexpected loss of his daughter, Becca, who had a long-term illness. “Even though she was sick, her death still shocked us. Nothing really prepares you for that moment.” Matt, who lost his son, Eric, in the military, noted that while there’s always a lingering awareness of the risk in military families, “When it happens, it’s still shattering. And then the media… they show up within an hour, looking for a story, not fully grasping the gravity of your grief.”

Yet, as Matt shared, “God gave us a grace in that moment—just what we needed to get through it.”

Don’t Let This Pain Be Wasted

One of the most poignant moments came when Dave recalled a prayer he whispered early in his grief: “God, don’t let this pain be wasted.” It became a turning point—a plea for purpose in the middle of anguish. When Dads Grieve A Conversation on Faith Family and Holding On reminds us that God can bring meaning from our pain.

Grief experts say that the early stages of grief can last five years or more. “If you’re only a few months, or a couple of years in,” Dave said, “you’re still an early griever. Give yourself grace.”

The Role of Church and Family

Matt shared how grief gave him a renewed appreciation for church and family. “When someone lacks both—a church community and strong family ties—it’s even harder. The enemy tries to isolate us. My prayer is that people reinvest in those relationships.”

Dave agreed, adding that many grieving parents, especially Christians, struggle with returning to church. “Churches often rally in the beginning, but as time goes on, some don’t understand why you haven’t ‘moved on.’ But God’s timeline for healing is not the world’s timeline.”

What’s essential, they both emphasized, is pressing into God. “Let Him use your pain to deepen your relationship with Him,” said Dave. “Through Becca’s death, I gained a deeper understanding of God the Father’s love. If my love for her was so great, how much greater was His love in giving His own Son?”

Matt echoed that revelation: “I thought I’d pull away from God. But instead, it pulled me closer. Once you realize what God gave up for us, it compels you to stay the course.”

Father’s Day: Still Tender, Still Sacred

Both Matt and Dave spoke candidly about Father’s Day. For Dave, the first one after Becca passed was devastating. “It does ease a bit over the years, but that ache never fully leaves.”

Matt shared how his family honors his son, Eric, every year on June 5, the anniversary of his passing, leading up to Father’s Day. “We put out flags. We have a metal cutout of a kneeling soldier. Our neighbors know—it’s part of how we remember. And our other sons have honored me through their own growth and strength.”

For both men, Father’s Day became less something to avoid and more a way to remember—with reverence, with love, and with the joy of God’s healing.

A Call to Stay in the Game

Matt left us with a powerful reflection: “Fathers have many chances to pull away when life gets hard. But when you hang in there—when you stay available, stay committed—it matters. On Father’s Day, when you’ve poured into your family, they pour back into you. That’s a miracle all its own.”

He continued, “To the dads out there: stay in the game. Push through the pain. Because that’s when God begins His most miraculous work.” This truth echoes throughout When Dads Grieve A Conversation on Faith Family and Holding On.

A Final Prayer

They closed their conversation in prayer—thanking God for families, for His strength, for His faithfulness.

“Lord, bless each father reading this today. Let them feel Your presence in their deepest places of grief. Help them press into You. Strengthen their families. And may their faith rise as they commit their ways to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Don’t Let the Pain Be Wasted

There’s no guidebook for grieving as a father. But in their conversation, Matt and Dave reminded us of something powerful: healing doesn’t mean forgetting. It means honoring. And above all, it means being faithful—even when the outcome is not what we prayed for.

As Dave said so well: “Don’t let this pain be wasted.”

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NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 300. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

If you would like to join thousands of other bereaved parents receiving a weekly word of hope delivered to your inbox, let us know below.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.

To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.

A Moment to Pause

As I was sitting outside to work on this in front of the Hope Mobile on our beautiful seasonal site, I had to close my laptop, set it aside, and enjoy the beauty all around me. I had to stop and allow God to do for me what I was writing about that He will do for others – for you. Can I trust God leading me.

Grandchild number nine was born this week. The day after being released from the hospital, the mom was taken by ambulance back to the hospital, looking like she had had a stroke. It had been several hours, and we had not heard anything else, and my mind was going in all kinds of directions, as you can imagine.

The Lord is my Shepherd. I have everything I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul – my favorite version says, “He restores my inner person.”

I sure needed that! All of it!

Before I go on, let me say it turned out to be a mini stroke with no lasting symptoms, thankfully, caused by high blood pressure which is being taken care of.

Green Pastures and Gentle Rest

Let’s look at the Shepherd making us lie down in green pastures. Some translations say “He gives me rest” or “lets me rest” in green pastures.
Obviously, lying down is a picture of rest. A sheep would not be safe lying down without the watchful eye of the shepherd.

To me, “green pastures” symbolize a place of rest, nourishment, and peace. When we allow it, God will lead us to places where we can have moments of hope and moments of strength. This is not our peace and our strength, but His peace and His strength that comes through to us in this place of suffocating darkness.

Having the shepherd encourage us to lie down in these green pastures also speaks to me that He is not expecting us to hurry up and get over it. He isn’t expecting it to be a quick fix, like some of our family and friends. The Shepherd’s pace is gentle and personal, and He plans to stay with us for however long it takes. Can I trust God leading me.

Still Waters and Silent Presence

Our Shepherd not only causes us to lie down in green pastures, but He leads us beside still waters.

Our grief often feels like drowning in a storm, with waves of sorrow crashing down on us unpredictably. Allowing the Shepherd to lead us to “still waters” offers relief. It is a place of having the opportunity to feel a bit of hope, which can feel refreshing, even if it is only for a few moments here and there.
Still waters are quiet. As grieving parents, we often find ourselves in places where words and well-meaning advice don’t help. Even Scripture can feel hollow. In those quiet, wordless places, God draws near. He doesn’t always speak loudly. Sometimes He just sits with you in the silence. Still waters are where His presence is felt, not explained.

The still waters come just before the verse, “He restores my soul.” Can I trust God leading me.

The Restoration of the Soul

We know that Jesus is the Shepherd. In Matthew 11:28 He said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

This place of rest is where He can restore our soul. Entering His rest isn’t a time and position, but sometimes that is where it starts. I learned very early how important it was to rest in God by just being with Him. I didn’t have to do anything but be loved on and comforted. This is the place I want you to find as well, as early as possible.

God kept pointing out to me that He wanted me to rest in Him and in the deep love He has for me during this dark time when I felt so devastated, lost and confused. Can I trust God leading me.

A Gentle Process

Learning how to live in that place of resting in God has been a process. The pain can still be pretty intense at times, making me feel like I am going backwards, losing that peace and the place of rest.
Sometimes, I will picture myself being led by the Good Shepherd, lying down in lush meadows and sitting beside quiet waters, as He restores my inner person. And on days like I talked about when starting this episode, I love actually being somewhere that has so much beautiful greenery, looking out over some water, with birds chirping and flying around, chipmunks chasing each other, squirrels running up and down the trees, and a rabbit hopping around in the distance.
I can feel like God created that beauty at that exact moment, just so He can use it to restore my inner person.   Can I trust God leading me.

How Are You Resting?

So, let me ask you, how are you doing in the “resting in Him” department? Do you set aside time here and there, determined to let go of your anxious thoughts, your fears, your doubts and your anger, by allowing the presence of His peace to push it all away, even if it is just for a moment?

We have spent three weeks talking about Psalm 23:1–2. I know that grief does not disappear with a scripture verse. But when words fail, the picture of a loving Shepherd providing green pastures and still waters can be something a broken heart can lean into, as if God is saying directly to you,
“I see you. I’m with you, and I will not let go. I am staying with you for however long it takes, and I will lead you step-by-step back to a place where my goodness can be seen in your life once again.” Can I trust God leading me.

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NOTE: This was partially taken from the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast episode 299. Click here to listen to the full discussion, or look for the Grieving Parents Sharing Hope podcast on your favorite listening app.

If you would like to join thousands of other bereaved parents receiving a weekly word of hope delivered to your inbox, let us know below.

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR, LAURA DIEHL, has written several impactful books that provide comfort and guidance to those navigating the painful journey of child loss, after the death of her own daughter in 2011. Her most acclaimed work, When Tragedy Strikes: Rebuilding Your Life with Hope and Healing After the Death of Your Child, has received multiple accolades, including the 2017 Gold Medal Centauri Christian Book Award for Non-Fiction and a Silver Medal in the 2018 Illumination Awards. Several of her other books have won awards as well.

In addition to her writing, Laura is an ordained minister and has an extensive background in international children’s ministry. She is a sought-after speaker and singer at grief conferences and churches, known for her compassionate approach and deep understanding of the grieving process, especially the unique loss of a child. Through her weekly award-winning podcast, her writings, and other resources provided by GPS Hope, Laura and her husband, Dave, continue to provide hope and healing to thousands of parents worldwide, helping them find light in the midst of profound loss and darkness.

For more information about Laura’s award-winning books go to gpshope.org/books.

To find out more about Laura Diehl and the ministry of Grieving Parents Sharing Hope (GPS Hope) visit gpshope.org.