Words for Widows

When we find ourselves weak and tired, consumed with grief, or under attack from the enemy....it is then that we must remember to rest in the presence of Our Father. He gives strength and lifts us above the heartbreak. In Him, alone, is the power to move forward to victory and find peace. There is joy to be found resting in Him, praising and praying, seeking His will for the future. David, the psalmist, even repeats himself saying the God alone is the rock and fortress. Call on the name of Jesus, feel His love and mercy surround you.   Be renewed daily with the power of God.   We will not be shaken!

We are told that in this world, we will have tribulation.  Sickness and death and other difficulties are a result of the Fall, but God’s grace and mercy have provided us a way to navigate our trials, through faith in Jesus and acceptance of the gift of Salvation that He offers each of us. Finding joy in the midst of our painful experiences may seem like an impossibility, but it will come to those who rest In Him. And, with that joy, comes strength and peace. We will see that God will take our brokenness and build us up. We are redeemed, restored. There  is still work to be done. And with increased strength we are able to carry out the mission set before us. In doing so,   He is glorified. 

My husband’s death left me alone, weak, powerless, and afraid. The future looked bleak, it was full of unknowns and overwhelming emotions.  But, it was there in the deepest, darkest valley that God took my hand and led me along the path that has become lighter and easier to walk.  The pain and heartbreak remain, but God’s grace and never ending love have come up underneath me, filling me with His strength.  He takes our brokenness and points us in a new direction that brings hope and healing to others.  Sharing our lives and our journey with the women we meet who also walk through the valley is a gift we have been given and one we must share.  It is His strength, His grace, and His great love for us that brings purpose and joy into our lives and enables it to multiply as we share our stories.  We need Him and we need each other. Freely you have been given, freely give.  

Whatever circumstance we may find ourselves in, we can be assured that God is there with us and  can use it to benefit us, or others, or to glorify himself. All we have to do is look Beyond the circumstance and see the miraculous things He does with it. Even in something as significant as the loss of a spouse, God can use it and use us, in spite of our grief and pain. Even in brokenness we can minister to other women similar situations, as we cultivate relationships with them,  because we know the way of grief. Being open to God’s guidance in any and all of our experiences, both positive and negative, Increases our faith, shines a light in to the darkness of someone else’s life, and ultimately glorifies our Heavenly Father.  Where I am weak, He is strong. 

Beauty for ashes,  the oil of joy for the cloak of mourning .  Jesus fulfills these prophetic words through his death and resurrection and has given all who believe in Him life eternal, The ultimate oil of joy.  But this promise will speak to us Individually, as well, as He leads us to a place where we again find beauty and happiness in our lives after our loss.  Trust Him to bring you through your season of grief, to a place of quiet comfort and joy. His grace is sufficient, His love never fails. Allow Him in to do a mighty work in your life to enable you to minister to others in relationships with them and to honor and glorify Jesus Christ.  

We are called to be warriors in the army of God.  There is a war that is ongoing, with a raging enemy who would love to distance us from our Savior and each other.  We are told to put on the whole armor of God,  first the defensive weapons to withstand attacks of the enemy, as Jesus fights our battles for us, and then to arm ourselves with  the only offensive weapon we need,  the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God, to actively fight the battle ourselves.....we join with Jesus, engaging in spiritual warfare.   We battle doubt, sadness, despair, temptation, anger, bitterness, and a multitude of other emotions as we grieve, but if outfitted in the full armor of God, can claim the victory..

Our life in Christ is to be lived with intention. Following His example, we must be actively pursuing relationships in love and transparency. During difficult times, such as after a loss of a loved one, the tendency to withdraw from fellowship produces loneliness and depression. This is the time to share the pain with others and allow them to speak love into us, allowing us to be strengthened and nurtured until we are able to turn and offer similar comfort to someone else. It is not easy to rise up and reach out for help, or to be a helper during the dark days, but the example of servanthood that Jesus gave us shows the way. We must continue to serve and give out of our own need and our own pain. We not only help another, but our own grief becomes more bearable in the process. The blessings that follow a servant attitude are well worth the struggle. 

The heartbreak of loss changes us completely. We are not the person we were before, and we sometimes struggle with the difficulties of trying to find our new “normal “. There are assurances throughout scripture of God’s loving care for His children, as a nation, but also as individuals. Jesus has a tenderness toward widows and orphans. He relates to us because his own heart was broken, He offers healing for those who put their hope in Him. He understands. His touch can heal our grieving and broken hearts.  Jesus himself will bind our wounds. There will always be a scar as a reminder of what was, but it is also testament to the love He has for each of us. His touch can make us whole, again. Praise Him