Resources by Topic: Grief and Loss

If your mom loved Jesus, she is with Him right now and if you love Jesus, the two (three counting your Father) will be together again when all His followers are united once and for all on the New Earth. Be patient; spend time thanking God for the years you had with your mom, and for the opportunities to serve Him by serving her. 

When my mom died, I mourned my loss, my wife’s, and above all my children’s. I felt like part of me had been taken away. That’s not an uncommon experience for those who’ve lost a parent.

It’s hard to totally know what to make of your experience, and my first recommendation would be, if you haven’t already done so, to talk to your pastor or another trusted leader at your church to get wise counsel and pastoral care.

This Friday, March 28, is the anniversary of Nanci’s homegoing. It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since she went to be with Jesus. I miss her every day, and am so thankful the great reunion awaits.

In his conversation with Brad Formsa on The WOW Factor, Randy shares personal reflections on the loss of his beloved wife, Nanci. He offers profound insights into navigating grief through faith, the power of God’s promises, and the importance of community in times of loss. They talk about his booklet Grieving with Hope: Walking with Jesus in Heartbreak, and Randy discusses practical ways to process grief while holding onto the certainty of eternal life through Jesus Christ. 

Two years ago, I did an interview with Davey Blackburn, who hosts the Nothing Is Wasted Podcast. I think because the conversation was between two people who have experienced suffering and the death of a spouse, I felt like God's Spirit was present in an unusual way during the interview.

I’ll never forget the Sunday morning when I arrived at our church, which my mom had also attended. Though she had died that week, I decided to preach anyway. A very strange thing happened.

I assume you are referring to the idea that a cardinal represents the memory, or sense of connection, with a loved one who has died? Or some seem to go as far as to say it’s a loved one sending a message.

There’s no doubt that grieving a loved one’s death is a long, often lonely, always painful process. But I encourage those of you who might feel you now have no purpose: don’t throw away the calling God has for you to serve Him here until your time is done and He takes you home.

It’s common for those who are grieving to find attending church difficult. So it’s certainly understandable that you would find aspects of church life very challenging right now. But let me also encourage you not to give up on attending church in person.

I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your loved one. I completely understand how you feel and absolutely know what it feels like myself to feel dismissed in my moment of pain by what others say and share.

When a child falls off a bike, she doesn’t need her father to explain the physics of why it happened. No. The child simply wants comfort. We don’t need explanations, most of which we wouldn’t understand anyway. We need “God, who comforts the downcast” (2 Corinthians 7:6). 

Clarrisa Moll, author of Beyond the Darkness, shares five tips for the holiday season for those who are grieving. She writes, “There is a joy to this season that death, trial, and suffering can never take away.” So true. Because of Jesus, we have a rock-solid hope. I believe that more than ever since Nanci entered His presence!

On the Equipping You in Grace show, Dave Jenkins talks with Randy Alcorn about how living in light of the truth of Heaven can help those grieving now and about finding your God-given identity after a loss. They also talk about Randy’s booklet Grieving with Hope: Walking with Jesus in Heartbreak.