47. Jeff Mallory – Faith, Fear, and Finding Gratitude in Suffering

In this moving episode, Nancy Grandquist sits down with missionary and cancer survivor Jeff Mallory to talk about the deep lessons that can only come through suffering. Diagnosed with stage-four mantle cell lymphoma and told there was no cure, Jeff shares how he discovered that faith is not a feeling — it’s trust. From debilitating panic attacks to miraculous healing, his journey reveals how gratitude, praise, and prayer can turn despair into peace and pain into purpose.Jeff’s testimony reminds listeners that God is still present in our darkest valleys and that suffering can become sacred ground when it leads us closer to Him. His words challenge us to ask a new kind of question — not “Why me?” but “What if the best is yet to come?”Key PointsFaith is not a feeling: Emotions are human, but faith is a decision to trust God even when feelings fail.Managing fear through gratitude: Jeff shares his three-step process — thank Him until you’re grateful, praise Him until you break through, and pray for others.The power of imagination: Fear hijacks the imagination, but hope reclaims it with “What if God still has something greater ahead?”Miracles defy explanation: Jeff recounts how doctors called his healing “something science has no explanation for.”Suffering refines priorities: Pain strips away what’s temporary so we can rediscover what’s eternal.Gratitude is a discipline: The Mallorys kept a “gratitude jar” during treatment to remind themselves of God’s faithfulness daily.This too will pass: Even the darkest season is temporary — hope is always alive in Christ.