Part 2 - From Grief to Hope with Amy JoobPart 2 - From Grief to Hope with Amy Joob
Crossroads with Jenny Bushkell
Jenny Bushkell talks with author Amy Joob about walking through deep grief, practical ways to cope, and how her Christian faith shapes her journey from loss toward hope. The conversation highlights family, community, and small acts of remembrance as gentle steps forward.
25:06•14 Aug 2026
From Grief to Hope: Amy Joob on Loss, Faith and Taking the Next Step
Episode Overview
- Allow yourself to feel grief instead of pretending to be fine, even if that means changing your plans or taking a break.
- Treat grief as normal rather than embarrassing, and recognise that sudden “grief ambushes” can happen anywhere.
- Ask trusted friends and community to support you and gently help you re-engage with family and daily responsibilities.
- Use structured tools like written prayers, reflection questions and small groups to process different kinds of losses.
- Look for ways to honour a loved one’s memory through ongoing acts of service that bring help and hope to others.
“"I remember even one time early on saying, will I ever be myself again? Will I ever be strong again? And she's like, Amy, you're going to come through this."”
What emotional and inspiring tales of recovery are out there? This conversation between Jenny Bushkell and award-winning author Amy Joob zeros in on grief, faith, and what it means to keep going when loss feels unbearable. Aimed at Christians and anyone wrestling with deep sorrow, the chat stays honest, gentle and very down-to-earth.
Amy talks about multiple losses, including her dad and brother Donnie, and how grief left her feeling stripped of strength: "I remember even one time early on saying, will I ever be myself again?" Her pastor’s reply – "Amy, you're going to come through this" – becomes a thread of hope running through the whole episode.
You’ll hear practical ideas for those heavy days when grief feels like "walking with big boots through deep, heavy mud": giving yourself permission to rest, changing your schedule, taking a break in nature, or simply allowing yourself to cry without shame.
Amy and Jenny also talk about the strange guilt that can show up after loss and how acts of service, like the Uncle Donnie’s Light giving fund and helping people in homelessness or suicide awareness, have become a life-giving way to honour her brother.
There’s real focus on family too: how to care for children while grieving, how trusted friends can gently call you back to your everyday roles, and how hard it is to release adult children to God without "clipping their wings". Throughout, Amy points back to Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 and the simple prayer, "Jesus, would you come live inside my heart?" as the anchor for her healing.
If grief has left you wondering whether you’ll ever feel like yourself again, this conversation might be the reminder you need that you’re not alone and that one small step of faith is still a step. What’s the next tiny step you could take today?
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