Ben Sasse Discusses Faith and Mortality

Former U.S. Senator Ben Sasse from Nebraska recently opened up about his faith and confronting death during a deeply emotional period. In a nearly hour-long discussion with Michael Horton and Dan Bryant, published on Sola Media’s YouTube channel, Sasse discussed his diagnosis.

“Once you get that diagnosis, you really understand there’s a strong chance you won’t be around much longer,” he shared. He mentioned that he and his wife, Melissa, felt fortunate to find peace quickly, but with three children—two daughters aged 24 and 22 and a 14-year-old son—there was still a sense of responsibility to fight against the cancer.

Sasse was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer, labeling it a “death sentence.” He noted that his faith played a crucial role in helping him cope with this devastating news, reflecting on how his priorities shifted. “When you really evaluate your life, the trivial pursuits fall away,” he commented. “Jesus accomplished everything on the cross, while I, frankly, have done nothing.”

He expressed a realization that many of his previous concerns now seem insignificant. There was a stark moment when he faced the pain caused by numerous tumors around his spine, which shifted his perspective dramatically. “It really shattered the idol,” he said, acknowledging that some things he thought mattered were, in reality, trivial.

Sasse also mentioned regrets about not prioritizing church attendance and observing the Sabbath more in his life. He said to his kids, “I wish I had taken the Lord’s Day more seriously; it’s a great remedy to idolatry. It’s almost a blessing that God reveals these idols to us, and, well, a life-threatening illness is a rather effective way to do so.”

Having served as the president of the University of Florida from 2015 until 2023, Sasse resigned following his wife’s epilepsy diagnosis. His reflections highlight the profound impact that faith and personal trials can have on a person’s outlook on life.