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“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”
Romans 15:13 (NET)

Reading Facebook posts late into the evening in December 2024, I came across the A Widow’s Might HopeTM Conference. I had joined in on a couple of AWM Hope Infusion Zoom calls, so on the spur of the moment, I registered for the April conference.

Fast forward to February 2025 … “What was I thinking?!?” I looked for ways to back out, to get my money refunded. Nope. God said, “This is where I want you, My daughter.” So, I went. And I have been blessed ever since.

Delighting in Fun

Relax. Breathe. Get out of the car. Walk into the building. … “Sandee!!! You’re here!” After only a couple of Zoom calls, the leaders knew my name! I felt like the red carpet had been rolled out. It was one of the best welcomes I had ever received. That same warm welcome was extended to each widow upon her arrival. I thought, “This might actually be fun … .”

“A cheerful heart brings good healing”
Proverbs 17:22a (NET)

The AWM leaders prepared packets of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate bars, and we enjoyed S’mores outside around cozy fire pits as we got to know one another. It was all good until I got toasted marshmallow on my fingers (both hands, really?!) and then dropped my roasting fork. I picked it up only to discover that both hands, and the roasting fork, were now covered in grass and dirt—firmly adhered to the toasted marshmallow. It got even funnier when I tried to open the door using my wrists … . Another widow came to my rescue. She and I laughed at my grass-dirt-marshmallow-covered fingers. We were having so much fun!

Engaging in Fellowship

Not only was the conference shaping up to be a fun experience, but we also enjoyed close fellowship as we attended sessions, participated in activities (anyone still sore from chair yoga?!), ate together, and prayed for each other.

An authentic bond is forged between people who walk through shared experiences, in our case, the loss of our husbands. God introduced me to another widow, and as we talked, our eyes grew wide with the wonder only He can inspire. We were the same age, had been married for the exact same amount of time (we shared the same wedding anniversary), and we had lost our husbands in September 2024. That was a God-arranged time of fellowship, and this dear lady and I remain friends today.

Every widow’s grief journey is different. We all have unique stories to share, but the result is the same: we are now without our husbands. Though it puts us in a group we never wanted to join, that kind of loss binds us in fellowship. As believers in Jesus Christ, we trust that

“God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”
Romans 8:28 (NASB1995)

Growing in Faith

As the dates for the AWM HopeTM Conference near, I look forward to how God will use the conference theme, topics, testimonies, and all the valuable wisdom that will be shared to help us to grow in faith together in Him.

“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude”
Colossians 2:6-7 (NASB1995)

The ones firmly rooted are also being built up and established in faith. I love that! We receive and we give. And we give and we receive—a cycle of growing in faith together as we overflow with gratitude for God’s provision through Jesus. This is what it looks like to grow in community with other believers. This is exactly what I experienced at my first AWM Hope Conference in 2025. We can expect a similar experience as we meet together; and certainly, we can expect a measurable growth in faith.

Won’t you join us and experience fun, fellowship, and faith with other women with whom you have shared experiences? You are being prayed for even now. We would love to see you!

To register for the 2026 AWM HopeTM Conference, click this link: https://awidowsmight.org/womens-christian-devotional/conferences.html

Dear Heavenly Father, please guide precious widows as they pray about attending the A Widow’s Might HopeTM Conference in April 2026. As You lead them, please help them to know they are greatly loved. Help them to know You are the God who fills them with joy and peace so they may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.