Dead for 4 Minutes. Alive by Grace - Part #2
A conversation between Ron Glenk, guest; and Devaughn Williamson, host.
Christian Grief: A Testimony of Loss and Redemption
Grief is something that many believers face, but when it comes unexpectedly, it can truly shake everything. The rest of Ron’s story is a a powerful example of Christian grief, exuding how God brings healing even in the worst tragedies.
To pick up where we left off, life seems to be going good for Ron. He began his journey of sobriety and landed a new job in 2019. As soon as life was getting back to normal, here comes a curveball out of left field.
One night Ron’s second-oldest daughter, Taylor, walked past him. At the moment they locked eyes, Ron could tell something was wrong, but didn’t say anything at that moment. Little did he know that that would be the last time he saw her alive. Taylor ended up passing away three days later, Father’s Day 2019. That moment shattered Ron and his wife, Dawn, life, and because their faith was not deeply rooted they turned to what was comfortable to each of them. Ron dove head first into fitness and performance enhancing drugs, and Dawn turned to alcohol. This type of coping caused them to drift, each drowning in their own pain. It’s a raw example of grieving as a Christian.
How to Trust God Again After Loss
To cope with the pain, Ron tried everything - exercise, selfhelp books, you name it. But nothing worked. In frustration, Ron broke down and ended up yelling at God because nothing was working and he felt like he was at a dead end. Finally, when he surrendered, he declared “fine , I’ll do it your way”.
This is often one of the hardest steps in Christian grief if your faith has been shaken - learning how to trust God again after loss. This was the moment things began to change. It wasn't all at once, but a slow progression. Ron decided to start reading the Bible, but for him it was too complex. So he start reading books about the bible to get a better understanding of what was going on.
One day, he randomly opened the Bible to the Book of Job. While reading it, things began to click and he was able to realize the work the Lord was doing in his heart.
Growing Spiritually Through Christian Grief
On the journey of his new faith, Ron admits he made some big mistakes in the midst of his excitement . He tried to force his family into a spiritual practice they weren’t ready for and led with control instead of love. Ultimately, it ended up pushing them away. And as his wife continued to battle alcoholism and his daughters resisted, he realized that love and grace is what draws people to God and not force or control.
Over time, Ron’s spiritual maturity grew, thanks in part to a patient mentor and his hunger for worship and fellowship. He went from pridefully scolding his family with the Bible to humbly recognizing his own flaws. That humility allowed Ron to confront a huge personal failure which was past infidelity in his marriage. After months of prayer and counsel, he confessed everything to his wife knowing it could break them, but hoping it would lead to healing.
It was a painful season, but things began to get better. It took a lot of time, prayer, therapy, and forgiveness. Slowly, his family experienced restoration. Their marriage, once fractured, became a powerful picture of grace, growth, and God’s redeeming love. Fast forward, Ron's entire family is now walking in faith together. And it all started with doing the hard, heart-wrenching work of being vulnerable. This is what makes Christian grief unique: it doesn’t erase the pain or circumstance, but it often transforms hearts, leads to deeper surrender and an undeniable touch of God’s love.
Ron's story serves as a reminder that when we surrender, God has a much better plan that he wants to put in place. He simply asks for our cooperation in his story.
Lessons for the Journey
Grieving as a Christian is not about hiding the pain, rather bringing it to God.
Learning how to trust God again after loss often comes through surrender to Him.
Community, godly mentorship, and worship help turn despair into growth opportunities.
Healing may seem slow, but God can restore.
If Ron’s story inspired you, consider sharing it with someone who needs encouragement. And I encourage you to partner with Faith Ignite to help bring more stories of hope to the world. Together, we can spread messages of God's faithfulness to those who need it most.
Devaughn Williamson President, Faith Ignite Inc
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Scripture reminds us that God is close to those who are brokenhearted and he understands what we go through. (Psalm 34:18)
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Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to not lean on our own understanding, but to acknowledge God in everything, even when life feels like it’s falling apart.
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Yes! Job is one of the best examples of someone who endured tremendous loss and pain yet encountered God in the middle of his suffering. Read the book of Job.
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The Bible emphasizes the importance of believers supporting one another in Galatians 6:2. We are called to carry one another’s burdens.
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1 John 1:9 assures us that when we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive and cleanse us of them.
