Walking with Jesus in Grief: My Interview with Sean McDowell

By Randy Alcorn

October 30, 2024

When God created humankind, death didn’t exist. Death is the result of our broken connection with the Giver of life. It is normal in the sense that unless Jesus returns in our lifetime, we will all die. But that doesn’t mean death was God’s ideal. It was and is an aberration, a tragic consequence of the fall. A world with death is like a masterpiece on canvas ruined by vandals that only the Master Artist can restore to His original design. Only He transform the maliciously marred painting into a greater work of art than the original. Only He can take the spoiled remnants of Eden, and by His redemptive work, make them into a greater masterpiece than the original.

For God’s people, death is temporary, not permanent. Knowing that can rob death of its sting, reducing it to temporary separation rather than a permanent end. Since death is our greatest enemy and biggest loss, grieving deeply and well is our best possible response. God made us to live, not die. Through His own suffering and death, only He can lessen and ultimately lift the torment of suffering and the sting of death.

In the journey of grief, we are not alone—one of the names of Jesus is Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Jesus is my closest and dearest friend. I can’t imagine life without Jesus. But in particular, I can’t imagine life without His friendship and my daily awareness of His presence and love and grace.

I was on Sean McDowell’s podcast, talking about walking with Jesus in grief, and my new booklet Grieving with Hope. Sean is a wonderful interviewer, and asked such great questions about Nanci, our relationship, her illness, and life beyond her homegoing to Heaven:

I was deeply touched by these comments left on YouTube by listeners:

“Don't become bitter at God for what He chooses to do. He loves me even more than I love myself and He knows what's best. Trust Him no matter what hard things you go through in your life.” I needed this today. I'm being treated with radiation for a spinal tumor. I have young children and it's hard to trust God and not become bitter that I can’t be the mom I want to be right now. Thanks.

I appreciate so much this video and testimony. My husband went to be with Jesus a year and a half ago. So many things your guest shared describe what I have been going through and learning from the Lord. My husband also was in ministry for many years and in just the same way we were very best friends for 52 years. His faith that he demonstrated all his life inspires me to keep my focus on eternity just as he did. Thank you again, dear brothers.

I really enjoyed hearing about Nanci. Even as a believer (since the age of 13) I’ve not been around many people who love to laugh. What a GIFT! I find myself looking forward to her laugh one day. Hugs to you, Randy!

I love this. It was so beautiful. I fell in love with Nanci.

Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over sixty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries.

Topics

Grief and Loss

The Comfort and Friendship of Jesus in Our Grief

article - Randy Alcorn Randy's blog

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).

How Can a Church Community Be Part of the Healing Process for Those Grieving?

audio - Randy Alcorn

In this audio clip, Randy Alcorn talks about how his church community has been a major part of the healing process since his wife Nanci died.

What I’ve Learned about Grieving with Hope in the Two Years Since Nanci’s Homegoing

article - Randy Alcorn Randy's blog

Tomorrow, March 28, marks two years since Nanci entered the presence of Jesus, after a four-year battle with cancer. I’ve been reflecting on what God has been teaching me since her death and its first-year anniversary.