The tragic death of Greg Laurie’s son, Christopher, in a car accident in 2008 serves as a powerful illustration of Romans 8:28, a verse that reassures believers that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Greg Laurie, a prominent pastor and evangelist, has publicly shared the profound grief he experienced following his son’s death, but he also emphasized how God’s presence and purpose continued to guide him even in the darkest moments of his life.

Greg and his wife, Cathe Laurie, were devastated by Christopher’s sudden passing, but through their deep faith, they found solace in the belief that God was still at work, even in their suffering. In the weeks following the accident, Greg Laurie spoke openly about his shock and despair, acknowledging that the pain felt unbearable. Yet, he also expressed a sense of peace, knowing that his son had committed his life to Christ and was now with God in heaven. This belief, that his son’s life and death were ultimately part of God’s sovereign plan, helped him begin to heal, even as he continued to struggle with grief.

Greg said about his son’s passing:

To lose a child is one of the hardest things that can happen to a person. I have been a pastor for 40 years now. I have done a lot of funeral services. Sadly far too many for children. I can tell you there were times after I would do a service for a child that died and I would walk away and say God I hope this never happens to me because if it did I don’t think I could handle it. But one day it did happen to me July 24, 2008 at 9:01 in the morning my son left this earth and went into the presence of God. It was the hardest day of my life. It really is a fate worse than death. Any parent would gladly trade places with their child and go and die.[1]

The story of how Romans 8:28 played out in Greg Laurie’s life is intertwined with the way he found the strength to continue his ministry. Despite his profound loss, Laurie remained committed to his calling. On the Sunday following Christopher’s death, he stepped into the pulpit, declaring, “I still believe.” This declaration was not just a statement of faith—it was an act of obedience to God’s calling. Laurie recognized that God could still use this painful chapter for good, both in his own life and in the lives of others. His ability to keep preaching the gospel in the aftermath of such a personal tragedy became a testimony of God’s sustaining power.

Additionally, the Laurie’s public grief became an avenue for ministry. Greg and Cathe Laurie shared their story widely, including creating resources to help others dealing with loss. Their personal journey through grief resonated with many who were facing similar circumstances, and through their experience, many came to find hope in Christ. They set up the Christopher Laurie Memorial Fund to support their son’s wife and children, ensuring that Christopher’s legacy would continue to impact others long after his death.

Romans 8:28 is not about a superficial understanding of “everything happens for a reason,” but rather about trusting that God is at work even in the most painful and confusing times. Through their loss, the Laurie family witnessed how God could bring good out of a devastating event, from the personal comfort of knowing Christopher’s faith to the way their public testimony helped others who were grieving.

In Greg Laurie’s case, his experience exemplifies how Romans 8:28 is not just a promise of eventual resolution but an ongoing journey of trusting in God’s good purposes despite the hurt. Laurie’s story is a powerful reminder that while we may not always understand why certain things happen, we can have confidence that God is sovereign, and He is using even the darkest moments for His glory and for the good of those who love Him.

In his own words

We all pray for God’s protection over our lives, but what about when an accident or tragedy happens in the life of God’s child? Where was his protection then? In asking a question like that, we are somehow assuming that we have a right to live long, relatively easy lives, and that we will one day peacefully die in our sleep at an advanced age. The Bible teaches that our times are in his hands. Our life is a gift to us from God. That breath you just drew and the next one you will draw and the one following it are all gifts to you as well.

This is something I sometimes struggle with personally, because as a dad, I am always protecting. And when my son died in a car crash, I felt, in a way, as though I could do nothing to fix it and that I had failed. Why didn’t I protect him? Why wasn’t I there to stop it? Why can’t I fix it? I’ve always felt able, for the most part, to fix things as a dad. Isn’t that what dads do? But I couldn’t do it in this case. Then I realized that my son is in the presence of my heavenly Father who has fixed it. I don’t need to fix this. What I do need is for God to fix me. And I need to trust my Father who holds my son safely in his arms.

Even in death, God will keep us. Because when you are a child of God, death doesn’t mean that God has failed in his promise to keep you. It means that when that day comes for you to go home, you will be taken safely into God’s presence, because his commitment to keep you doesn’t just stop with this life alone. It continues until he has taken us into his presence in glory.

Is God good? Without a doubt, he is.[2]

[1] Greg Laurie, The Greg Laurie Sermon Archive (Riverside, CA: Harvest Ministries, 2014).

[2] Greg Laurie, As I See It: Thoughts on Current Issues and Things That Matter from a Biblical Perspective (Dana Point, CA: Kerygma, 2011).