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This time of year can be so painful for those who have experienced the loss of a loved one. If you haven't experienced the depth of such a loss, know what a blessing it truly is and how worthy it is of giving praise to God. This year, experiencing the grief and loss of a spouse will be the reality for so many. While we may feel consumed by loss, pain, and sorrow, we can also choose to be consumed by God- by His mercy, His comfort, and His grace.
God's Word says, “Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you” (Isaiah 46:4).
Paul addressed the topic of widows in the church and the loss of a spouse-the greatest of all personal relationships. He said, “Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day” (1 Timothy 5:5).
Whatever the loss, either past or present, we too can trust God in the same way these widows in the Bible were instructed to do. We can call upon God’s strength to help us bear our burden of loss, then ask God to turn our loss into an opportunity to minister His grace to others who are suffering loss.
We know from Luke 2:37 that in the time of her widowhood, Anna “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day.” While Anna may have been tempted to live out her life alone, she instead chose a life of service to the Lord.
Although Anna was a woman whose life was touched by grief, she was devout, living at the temple. Her dear husband had died after only seven years of marriage. In the intervening years, 84-year-old Anna daily looked for help and redemption from the Lord.
Then, on one particular day, the Light of the world entered the temple of the Lord where Anna was serving the Lord. Mary arrived, carrying the long-awaited Christ Child in her arms; the One who would dispel the world’s darkness. Upon seeing Him, Anna “gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). She was a witness, and saw her long-awaited Lord face-to-face. Her life, and yours, would never be the same.
A life of faith has many aspects, and in the widow Anna we witness a life of steadfast hope and faithful worship, prayer, and service. She encouraged others, speaking of the Lord to all who would listen. Anna shows you and me vividly, the winning combination of qualities that make up a heart of humility!
May we be the one who seeks to lift up, encourage, and restore those who are cast down. To speak a timely word of ever-burning faith in God to those who are weary is indeed a divine art!
God of all comfort, today I praise You that You give strength to the brokenhearted and aid to those who are in need. You bring sweet relief to those who are in pain. You protect and defend the weak and provide for those who suffer. Often I feel alone and sad with the loss of something or someone that is familiar and precious in my life.
I know You are always present and will fill the emptiness I am experiencing with Your love, grace, and peace. Thank You that my losses give me opportunities to trust You and experience a greater measure of Your grace. When I am weak, You give me Your strength to carry on and to also comfort others who are experiencing loss. Thank You for Your love and concern. Amen.
How can I show God's love to others who may be grieving over the loss of a loved one this holiday season?
How can I turn my own loss into an opportunity to minister to others?
Choose to be consumed by God and His mercy, His comfort, and His grace.
“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 tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
