The Gospel in the Midst of Grief: Lessons from Widowhood – with Susan VandePol

Published on by nickcady

What does faithful, biblical care for widows look like, and why does the Bible say that it is at the heart of “pure religion”?

In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I speak with Susan VandePol. Susan became a widow when her husband—a Los Angeles City firefighter—died following a line-of-duty exposure. Out of her own grief the Lord led her to create practical protocols for fire departments and churches, and to host deeply healing widows’ retreats.

In this conversation we cover:

  • Why you don’t “stop” being a widow—even after remarriage
  • How Scripture frames widowhood (the “quartet of the vulnerable,” James 1:27, Luke 18)
  • “Pruning” grief: letting God move grief toward health and fruit
  • Presence over platitudes: what helps, what harms
  • A simple, sustainable church protocol (care that intentionally extends to two years)
  • How ministering to widows purifies the whole church

Resources mentioned:

About Susan VandePol:

Widow, author, and founder of Matters of Life and Breath, Susan equips churches and first-responder communities to care wisely and biblically for widows. She and her husband (a trauma specialist) also serve internationally with grief and trauma care.

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Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

The Gospel in the Midst of Grief: Lessons from Widowhood – with Susan VandePol – Theology for the People

What does faithful, biblical care for widows look like, and why does the Bible say that it is at the heart of "pure religion"?Susan VandePol became a widow when her husband—a Los Angeles City firefighter—died following a line-of-duty exposure. Out of her own grief the Lord led her to create practical protocols for fire departments and churches, and to host deeply healing widows’ retreats.In this conversation we cover:• Why you don’t “stop” being a widow—even after remarriage• How Scripture frames widowhood (the “quartet of the vulnerable,” James 1:27, Luke 18)• “Pruning” grief: letting God move grief toward health and fruit• Presence over platitudes: what helps, what harms• A simple, sustainable church protocol (care that intentionally extends to two years)• How ministering to widows purifies the whole churchResources mentioned:• Church Protocol for Widow Care – Matters of Life and Breath (download free)• Fire Department Widow Protocol – Matters of Life and Breath (free)• Widows’ Retreat (West Michigan, Oct 17–19) – registration details via the Matters of Life and Breath websiteAbout Susan VandePolWidow, author, and founder of Matters of Life and Breath, Susan equips churches and first-responder communities to care wisely and biblically for widows. She and her husband (a trauma specialist) also serve internationally with grief and trauma care.⏩ If this helped you, please share it with a friend and subscribe for more conversations that bring theology to the people!

I have recently started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here:

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