Resources by Topic: Grief and Loss

A year ago tomorrow, on March 28, 2022, I said goodbye—for now—to my wife, Nanci, who was also my partner, soulmate, and best friend. The pilgrimage of grief, though full of learning and enrichment, is one I would gladly exchange to have my wife with me again. And yet…not really, because I recognize God’s sovereignty and love, and His perfect plan, and the fact that my wife is now happier than she has ever been.

Randy Alcorn and Greg Laurie (senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship) had a conversation about Randy’s book Heaven for Kids. In this clip Randy answers the questions: How are things going personally for you as you grieve? Do you see Heaven differently because of your experience of grief? Why should we think deeply about Heaven?

Grieving a loved one’s death is a long, often lonely, always painful process. Four key players stand out in my continued healing journey through grief—the first being my firm belief in the promises of Jesus about our eternal future.

We’ve received many notes from readers over the years, who recently lost or are anticipating the loss of their animals, and are grateful for the perspectives I shared about pets—especially after the deaths of our Dalmatian Moses and our Golden Retriever Maggie.

Please remember that it takes time to reach that place of perspective. Be patient with yourself during this process. It can take three or more years just to get past the fog and confusion of a major loss.

I can’t imagine the depth of grief you’re experiencing. It must seem as though life has come to a standstill at times, but everyone around you just keeps on living. Grieving is such a long, difficult, and sometimes lonely process.

Last month, I was on Dr. Lee Warren’s podcast to talk about the eternal Heaven, my new book The Promise of the New Earth, and how an eternal perspective has shaped the grief I’ve experienced since Nanci went to be with Jesus last March. I was happy to talk with Lee about the New Earth because it is rarely spoken of in churches.

Randy spoke in November with Dr. Lee Warren about the loss of his wife Nanci, walking through grief, and the living hope that we have in Jesus. They talked about all we have to look forward to on the New Earth, where Jesus’ laughter will be the loudest!

A few weeks ago I spoke at the services of my home church, Good Shepherd Community Church. The subject was what God has been teaching me about loss and grief since Nanci went to be with Jesus March 28. One of the most precious things about that weekend at my church was that I was able to share many profound insights from Nanci’s journals.

Last month I had a conversation over Zoom with Steve Silver of Men’s Golf Fellowship. Steve’s wife Sandy went to be with Jesus last December, just three months before Nanci died. We can both understand each other’s pain of loss, but also the intense anticipation for and comfort of Heaven now that our wives reside there.

In September Randy spoke over Zoom with Steve Silver of Men’s Golf Fellowship. Having both lost their wives during the last year, they shared grief experiences and spoke about Heaven and the great hope it holds.

Jesus is Nanci’s best friend and my best friend. She is there with Him, and He is here with me. So Jesus is the bridge that keeps us connected until we live in that new world, with new bodies and minds, that He is preparing for us. The connection I feel to her through Him is profound.

The truth is that while we are told many things in Scripture about Heaven (as Randy explains in his book), there are some details we are simply not given. We have to go back to what we do know for sure from God’s Word.

God doesn’t only promise to replace our grief with joy, but to turn it into joy. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”