Grace For The Widow

Joyce Rogers has walked the path of widowhood since late 2005 when her husband of fifty-four years, renowned pastor Adrian Rogers, passed away. Grace for the Widow is her firsthand account of how God holds a woman’s hand on this journey through the fog of loss. Her insights address both the profound and practical. Rogers recounts her grief in touching detail and how she called on the Lord and His promises from Scripture for strength. She also encourages readers with useful tips on staying healthy, keeping a positive attitude, reaching out to friends, and recognizing God’s continuing plan for those who have lost their husband. Poignantly, Grace for the Widow concludes with two helpful appendices–"The Names of God" by Adrian Rogers and Joyce’s own "The Treasure of God’s Word."

In Gods Word to a Widows Heart, author Ronda Little Martin provides daily inspiration from Gods Word for those recovering from personal loss. A widow herself, Martin is the cofounder of PHOEBE Connections, which connects widows for fellowship and service. This collection gathers the daily devotionals that she writes each day to the widows of PHOEBE Connections based upon her own devotion time with God. They are designed to inspire, strengthen, comfort, and encourage widows in their journey to overcome grief and to gain new identity and purpose in Jesus Christ. Martin spends the early part of each morning reading and personally applying Gods Word. She then shares whatever message of inspiration He gives her with the ladies of PHOEBE Connections via e-mail, social media, and the PHOEBE website. Therein, she seeks to fulfill Pauls command in 2 Corinthians 1:4 to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. From Determine to Sing a New Song to Just Keep Asking, Gods Word to a Widows Heart can strike a chord with anyone who is dealing with profound, personal loss.

Losing a spouse is always traumatic. In this book of 60 devotions, Nell Noonan candidly shares her experiences in the 26 months following the death of her husband. Emphasizing that each person's journey through grief is unique, Noonan encourages readers to turn to God for strength, comfort, and healing. Her devotions are grouped into 4 sections: Part 1: Sorrowing, Sighing, and Consolations; Part 2: Broken and Blessed; Part 3: Healing and Hope; Part 4: Mourning to Morning. Noonan reminds readers they can count on God's steadfast love and presence every day. This book is a helpful resource for women making the transition from wife to widow.

Back Page What do you say to someone who has just lost the love of their life? How do you act around them? How long do you try to comfort them? What if they seem to reject your attempts to console them? If you are the person who lost a loved one, how do you grieve and for how long? How do you handle those waves of depression? How do you relate to your children? Why can't your adult children and friends understand? Where do you go for help? How long does it take to travel this journey of grief? The author helps to answer these and other questions as she tells stories of her own journey and the journeys of others. This book is short, practical, and can be read in any order according to the needs of the reader. The author begins by describing how she cared for her husband during his illness and gives helpful guideline for handling life for herself and her family...not wanting to think about his coming death but knowing she must be realistic. She tells of how her family and friends helped and sometimes hindered. Practical suggestions are given at the end of each chapter with the author, making sure that readers need not feel they must do everything at once or exactly like someone else has done. Although she puts strong emphasis on God's grace and His word, she makes it clear that professional help is sometimes needed. Going places alone, making financial decisions, handling those special days, facing more difficulties, growing in confidence, and ministering to others are just a few of the topics addressed. The widow not only learns who she is but begins to grasp who God is as He strengthens and guides her with his mercy and grace. Paula wants readers to know that she truly grappled with when to write and which stories to tell. She often cried out to God for discernment, asking, "Am I being too vulnerable? Do I really want people to know some of these experiences?" She was reminded how others could receive help through a scripture or particular story. Readers will be thankful that she completed the book and find hope for their own journeys no matter the length or challenge.

Life crises threaten our spiritual stability. Losing a loved one--whether or not you expect their death--is always traumatic. The trauma of adjusting to the new identity of widow while facing a multitude of questions and urgent decisions can be overwhelming. In this book of 60 meditations, Nell Noonan candidly shares her experiences in the 26 months after the death of her husband. She describes her journey in grief as packed with blessings and brokenness. Despite the low points, she managed to find God in the midst of bereavement. Noonan acknowledges that each person's grief journey is unique. "My writing is not meant to tell you what or how or when to do anything," Noonan says. "The devotions are only meant to hold your hand and feel your pain so that hopefully you will be able to inch slowly, step-by-step, into being more whole, less broken--into a new, peace-filled life." This book will help widows, whether they choose to read it alone or with a group. A good resource for grief support groups, and an appropriate gift to show your concern for any woman grieving the loss of her husband.

Widowhood is one of the hardest and most painful experiences we women have to endure. Sometimes, though, there are no words to capture the pain, loneliness, and at times, desperation when finding yourself without your life mate. Prayer is the only answer when we are bent beneath the load of widowhood, because we have His promise that He will lift us and be our strong refuge when trouble comes. This devotional offers the widow’s aching heart a way to pray circles from widowhood, when the words just don’t come because of the heavy grief.