Loneliness in WidowhoodSample

Imagine this: you awake in the middle of the night, startled by a noise, a bad dream or maybe even the deafening silence of your room. Once awake, you turn over to see if your husband is awake too, only to be confronted, once again, by a realization more startling than your bad dreams; your husband is gone and no longer on this earth with you. Though you know in your heart he just went ahead of you to a better place, that thought doesn’t bring much comfort in the moment. You felt more like you had been left behind. As you lay alone in the bed, your heart aching, you began to meditate on a scripture you had heard, repeating it out loud to yourself; "It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8 (ESV)

As believers, we know that there is a flicker of hope because we know our spouse is in a place where there is no pain, no suffering, and no sadness. We can remember that death is a temporary separation, yet our hearts can still yearn for our heavenly reunification.

In Deuteronomy, Joshua finds himself left behind. God had taken his servant, and Israel’s leader, Moses, to heaven. Moses had been the one to hear from God for the people, give direction, and seek God’s provision. Joshua had followed him closely, depending on him greatly. Suddenly, all the pressure was on Joshua. He had to lead. He had to seek God for provision for the people. He had to make all the decisions. It was a scary place to be. There were probably many nights when he awoke to the overwhelming feeling of having to continue his course without Moses. So, God continued to remind Joshua that even though he seemed alone, he was not alone. God promised Joshua that He would be with him wherever he went. He would not abandon or leave him. God would be a constant source of wisdom, strength, and provision in his life. Though Joshua’s earthly leader, friend, and confidant had gone on ahead of him, he was not alone on his journey. In the same way, we are not alone on our journey.

Take some time to memorize one of the scriptures you read today. In moments when you begin to feel overwhelmed by fear or anxiety, repeat that scripture out loud. Meditate on it. Focus on the fact that Your Heavenly Father is with you. You are never alone.

Challenge yourself when those lonely, helpless feelings sink in, to be reminded that you are never alone. In those lonely moments, write out a prayer to God and share any of the loneliness you may be feeling.