‘O death, where is thy sting?’ — an Easter reflection on grief and the grace of Jesus

By Julia Ditto | FāVS News Columnist

The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.

Kevin Campbell, an old family friend whom I have known since I was a teenager, was a seasoned captain of an Alaskan fishing boat. He was as tough and true as they come. Three years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer, but due to his stubborn grit, some medical miracles and the steady care of his wife, Kathryn, he always bounced back whenever it seemed like the illness might get the better of him. 

Finally, in the early days of January 2026, it looked like his time was coming to an end. His wife, children and grandchildren started preparing to say goodbye. It looked like he would be drawing his last breath any day. 

Ten minutes away from Kevin lived his son, Nathan, and daughter-in-law, Angie. On a Sunday evening in January, Angie said she wasn’t feeling well. Expecting to go to bed early and see a doctor in the morning, she instead passed out in her home and was rushed to the hospital.

Minutes later, this vibrant wife and mother of three boys, just 44-years-old, died of a pulmonary embolism in the ambulance. Out of nowhere, a beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend was gone.

Many in the family left Kevin’s bedside to be with Nathan and his children, bouncing back and forth from house to house in a grief-stricken blur. Less than 24 hours after Angie’s passing, Kevin took his last breath, with his reeling family by his side. Never had they imagined a devastation like this. The grief was palpable.

As a friend to both Kevin and Angie and many in their extended family, I felt a wrenching sorrow for their losses. I was in utter disbelief that something like this could happen. 

I have been a Christian my whole life, firm in my faith that God loves each of us and is relentlessly concerned for our welfare. But I’ll be honest: I was furious at God for allowing such a tragedy to occur.

“Are you even there?” I asked in an anguished prayer on the morning after Angie died. “Are you even aware of what is going on? How could you let this happen to this family?”

I remembered something my mom had said when I was a teenager and my dad was dying of cancer. She told me that when tragedies happen, you can either raise a fist toward heaven, or you can raise an open hand. You can choose to be angry at God because of what has happened, or you can turn to him as the only One who can offer the “balm of Gilead” to soothe your sorrow.

A few minutes into my tear-filled prayer, I figuratively lowered my fist. I thought about all the things that happen just by virtue of living in a mortal, imperfect world: hearts stop, diseases rage, accidents occur and people make choices that bring harm to others. 

When these things happen, we usually want to know one thing: Why didn’t God do something? I’m so grateful to know that God did do something: he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to atone for every sorrow, every death, every mistake and every unfair thing that can happen in this life. Through his grace, he can take our broken pieces and make us whole.

Gary E. Stevenson, an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, “Because of Jesus Christ, everything changed. Because of him, everything is better. Because of him, life is manageable — especially the painful moments. Because of him, everything is possible.”

The apostle Paul declared, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:55). At this Easter season and always, I’m eternally grateful to Jesus for taking the sting out of death and all the sorrows in this life.

I’m grateful that Kevin and Angie’s family, though they will always grieve and miss their loved ones, have hope of one day being with them again. I’m grateful that, because of Jesus, we can rest in the knowledge that, in the end, all is well.

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