As you follow this five-day Bible reading plan, you will be guided through an inevitable aspect of the widow’s journey: loneliness. With the help of stories from the Bible and testimonies from other widows, you will be provided with tools that will assist you in overcoming loneliness. You are never truly alone because you have a God who loves you and walks with you every step of the way.Stand In The Gap Ministries
Day 1
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9
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.
Day 2
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 31:6, Lamentations 3:20-24, Isaiah 43:2
Throughout the Bible the phrase “Fear not” is used 365 times. That is equal to one reminder for each day of the year. The Heavenly Father is intentional with every detail that may concern us. The Bible wasn’t written to us, but it was written for us. Think about that for a moment. The Heavenly Father inspired the writers of the Bible with these words generations before people would need them.
In Deuteronomy 31:6, it says “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
There were many times that God had to remind Joshua not to be afraid or panic, which probably meant he was prone to being afraid or panicking. In the same way, there will be many times in your own journey when you will feel fear or panic try to creep in. But this scripture reminds us of the truth that we are not left behind to navigate this life on our own. This scripture says God personally goes ahead of us to lead the way. He doesn’t just give us a map and hope we find our way through the difficult parts. No, He walks before us and shows us the way. We have a God who sees us, loves us, and is for us. He will never abandon us and never fail us. He is WITH us.
What triggers your anxious moments? What helps you calm down? Write out a prayer or affirmation that you can use when you feel anxious. Challenge yourself to memorize Deuteronomy 31:6 and when you begin to feel overwhelmed by fear or anxiety, repeat that scripture out loud.
Day 3
Scriptures: Psalms 25:16-17, Psalms 73:23-26
Being a widow brings on a set of challenges that most don’t understand unless they have walked through this journey. The children’s author Dr. Seuss once wrote, “All alone! Whether you like it or not, alone is something you’ll be quite a lot!” Leave it to Dr. Seuss to tell it to us straight. From the time we are born, we will all have moments where we are both alone and lonely, though they don’t always go hand in hand. We can be alone and not lonely, but we can also be lonely and not alone. Quiet nights at home without our spouse can bring up the same lonely feeling as being the fifth wheel at a dinner party surrounded by couples.
Just as your life has been filled with many ups and downs, David’s life was as well. In Psalm 25:16-17, David cries out to God, saying “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distress.” David had gone from someone who was being praised and loved to someone who was despised and loathed.
David’s honesty about his struggle with loneliness shows us that no one is beyond that feeling. We all experience it at different times. But here, we see David turn towards God in his moment of distress rather than away from God. David knew where to look for comfort and strength when his heart felt lonely. Take time today to remember that just as He delivered David, He will deliver you. It may not look like how you imagine it and it may not be in your timeframe, but He will come through. God is seldom early, and He is never late. He is always faithful!
Take a moment today to remember God’s promises for you. Write them down and say them out loud. Keep this list and come back to it when you need these reminders.
Day 4
Scripture: Psalms 23:1-6
In Psalm 23:5-6, it says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:5-6 (NIV)
This beautiful line of verse, which was penned by the shepherd boy turned King David, comes from Psalm 23. You’ve probably heard or recited this Psalm many times yourself. It starts with the visual reminder, “The Lord is my shepherd.” David spent many nights on the hillside with only the stars and sheep as his companions. The shepherd’s life could be a quiet and lonely one, but David saw these times as an invitation to meet with God. It was here that he came to know God as his shepherd and his protector. Could it be that learning to find God in the quiet of the hillside as a shepherd boy gave him the strength to make it through his time in the caves as a fugitive?
David goes on to write, “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In the Bible, we often find oil associated with joy. It’s interesting that in the “darkest valley,” is where David discovered the true source of joy. Sometimes our greatest revelations happen in our darkest valleys. Many times after this, David wrote of his hardships and struggles only to end it with a line like, “but my hope is in the Lord.” Despite the many trials he faced, his hope and strength were anchored in God. He knows, He sees, and He is making a way for you because He is the Good Shepherd, He is a good Father and He is always faithful.
Take a few moments and read Psalm 23 in different versions. Which one is your favorite and why? What do you see or maybe even feel as you read this chapter? Challenge yourself to take one evening this week and spend some quiet time outside under the night sky. Imagine you are like David on the hillside watching the sheep. Allow God to speak to your heart in the quiet. Imagine Him pouring his love, peace, and joy over you, like anointing oil.
Day 5
Scriptures: Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6, Lamentations 3:20-24, Psalms 25:16-17, Psalms 73:23-26, Psalms 23:1-6
Over the last four days, you have learned about fear, anxiety, and loneliness and how it relates to your journey of widowhood. All of these feed into each other in a very unhealthy way if you do not stop them and cover those feelings with scripture and the promises found in God’s Word.
If you find yourself like any of those we have read about in the last four days, feeling alone and being afraid, please remember you are never alone! You can be courageous like Joshua, although you realize you are going into unknown territory. You can also turn to God in your loneliness and find a peace that passes all understanding like David did even in the midst of the most trying and scary circumstances.
The journey of widowhood can be a lonely journey, but you can find solace in a God who promises He will never leave you or forsake you. You can find comfort in the community He brings into our lives. You can find healing in His words that He is near to the brokenhearted.
As you finish this plan, you may find yourself still questioning and your circumstances most likely have not changed, but you may feel yourself changing as you are reminded of God’s love and comfort.
Cry out in your loneliness to our God. Remember His love for us and the sacrifices He made through His son, Jesus Christ. If you feel far from God, spend some time in prayer today, pouring out your heart, your fears and your anxiety about this journey. As you continue to walk out your journey, as a widow, we want to encourage you to continue to remind yourself of all God has done in your life and know that He is not finished yet. He has a purpose and a plan for you today, just as He did before your spouse died.
We challenge you to get involved in your local church and if they have a widow’s ministry, take the first step of attending an event or small group. When you are tempted to let fear control you, look at the verses of the last four days. Etch them onto your heart, memorize them, reflect on them, meditate on them, and spend time in prayer pouring your heart out to a God who cares for you, sees you, and loves you. You have a God who sees you in your hurting, cares for you more than you will ever understand, and who does not want your loneliness to be a permanent state.