Southland Men: Bryan Taylor (Even If You Don't)

“I need you to know that God seems to throw me hard things. You just need to know what you’re getting into.” - Kailen Combs Taylor

This week on Locker Room our guest Bryan Taylor sits down with Scott to share a powerful story of love, loss and hope. Bryan and Kailen shared five years together before they were separated by her death from cancer in 2015.

In our conversation today, Bryan shares about navigating the grief that began with Kailen’s diagnosis and what life was like after she passed away. Bryan also shares how he was able to move forward, choosing hope and rediscovering life after such a profound loss.

 

DISCUSSION GUIDE

If you had to give a title to the last 9 months of your life, what would it be and why?

“War” is the title of the story that Bryan labeled such a hard period of his life. Has there been a time in your life that looking back you would label as “war?”

In grief you often don’t know what to say, and sometimes people say things that aren’t helpful. What is something someone has said to you that was helpful in a moment of grief?

Read Hebrews 2:17. Jesus was fully human. He knew exactly what it was like to have to navigate grief and feel the weight of life being thrown at him. Jesus understands what it is like to experience loss, because he experienced loss during his life. When you’re navigating grief, is it easy for you to run to Jesus? Why or why not?

Scott and Bryan talked about how the physical act of writing and journaling has been helpful as they navigated grief. When you listen to the concept of writing and journaling, what does that make you think? Is it something you are open to trying?

Read Isaiah 55:8-9. How does choosing to accept the truth of these verses help us to navigate  grief by putting it in the proper perspective?

“It’s not the load that breaks you down; but the way you carry it.” What are some healthy ways we can choose to carry the circumstances life throws our way that won’t break us down?

Read Romans 8:35-39. The promise we can hold onto is that there is absolutely nothing in all creation that can separate us from the love of God that is in Jesus Christ.

Of the three insights Bryan gave at the end of the podcast, which one is hardest for you to hold onto when navigating hard times?  

(1) No amount of agony is enough to dim Christ’s love for you. 

(2) If you make your pain available to God, he won’t waste it. 

(3) Hold onto the hope of the resurrection. 

What else from the podcast spoke to you?

What did God/Holy Spirit speak/prompt/say to you?  What’s God asking you to do?  What does He want to give you?  What does He want you to lay down?

RESOURCES

• Even if You Don’t: A Love Story - Bryan Taylor

• The Lazarus Within: How to Choose Hope & Rediscover Your Life After Loss - Bryan Taylor

• A Grief Observed - C.S. Lewis

• Breaking Chains: Navigating Grief, with Gary Black - A Locker Room Podcast - February 28, 2025. 

• The Time We are Given, with James Rutledge - A Locker Room Podcast - March 22, 2021. 

NEXT STEPS 

• Memorize Romans 8:38-39. 

• Join a Grief Share Group at southland.church/groups

• For any other questions or comments email [e-mail]