A Widow's Reflection

Three years, how is that possible? So much has happened since then. So many changes, yet the Lord has been so kind! He has carried me through every day, and His peace guards my heart. Today, I am going to share a few personal reflections, a widow's reflections, of the things God has revealed to me during this time. May the Lord grant you peace, encouragement, and hope as I reflect on God's loving kindness and grace during one of the most painful and challenging times of my life.

• The Lord was my source of strength when grief weighed me down. The first year was tough. The grief was so fresh and raw. So many tears, physical exhaustion, loneliness, and the unknown loomed ahead. God was there, and He carried me. When no one else heard my cries, He did. My tears did not go unnoticed. He held me during those dark days, and He provided hope, giving me a new purpose.

  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;"-Psalm 23:4

  "My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word!"-Psalm 119:28

  "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."-Psalm 34:18

• When you transition from being a wife to a widow, and then that covering and protection are gone, the Lord provides you with new covering and protection. Every time I went to Him with an issue that overwhelmed me, He provided. It was so humbling, and His love was so evident. Now, this didn't mean that everything worked out the way I wanted, but He did work it out. It constantly required submission and trust.

  "Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation."-Psalm 68:5

  "Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me."-Jeremiah 49:11

• The Lord has taught me (and continues to teach me) the importance of being still and listening to Him. If anyone knows me, they know that I enjoy talking. While the Lord wants us to share our hearts with Him, we also need to stop and listen to what He is saying. Simply being in His presence, delving into the Scriptures, and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth is a gift. It takes intentionality and being willing to lay down our desires, trusting that He knows what is best for us. I've found that when I go to Him and share the deepest parts of my heart, and then take the time to listen to Him, He meets me there and shares His heart with me as well. It is such a precious gift, and one that I never want to take for granted.

  "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."-Psalm 46:10

  "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;"-Psalm 37:7a

  "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."-Exodus 14:14

• The Lord will use our experiences to help others if we allow Him to do so. You see, nothing we experience in this life, the good or the bad, is wasted when we give it into God's hands. He takes every piece and uses it to point others to Him. There is an actual healing that takes place when we reach out to others and share the same comfort we received with them.

  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."-2 Corinthians 1:3-4

  "Let your steadfast love comfort me according to your promise to your servant."-Psalm 119:76

  "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."-Matthew 5:4

  "And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you."-1 Peter 5:10

Thank you for letting me share my heart with you. I pray the Lord blesses you and encourages you with these truths. He loves you and has a purpose for your life. He can redeem anything, and He is waiting to walk with you as you navigate the joys and challenges of this life. You are seen, you are known, and you are loved!

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.