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In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (NIV)

I step on the gas. The car groans. I step on it hard. More groaning, but no additional speed. It’s the transmission. A light comes on the dash: transmission hot, idle engine. I did not even know there was such a light! I pull over and idle. The light goes out. We limp the rest of the way home. This is a big deal. And I miss my husband.

It is funny how I can be cruising along (quite literally) on this widow walk and in two seconds, can be thrust back into feeling helpless and alone.

But I am not alone. Shift back in time to the rest of this story and the evidence I have that God was there…

1. We pull out of church rather late that evening and are behind someone traveling very slowly down the road. While this was annoying at the moment, it probably saved my transmission failure from happening on a dark, curvy road without a shoulder, a very dangerous situation. We were literally a mile or less from the house when I lost second and fourth gear.
2. Next morning, my sweet neighbor diagnosed the problem…and offered to fix the car in his shop at cost. And that amount just happened to be in my bank account as a tax refund.
3. One of my sweet sisters in ministry called with a God sighting just as I was praying through what to do about the car. As she described it to me, we had the blessing of sharing the joy of what it meant to her to see this evidence of the Father and His perfect timing in her sharing it with me.
4. Another friend heard of my problems and came over to take my boys to their morning activities at church.
5. Five friends offered me loaner cars until mine was fixed.
6. And a sweet widow friend offered me financial assistance, should I need it.

Sisters, I could look at this as “coincidence” or “luck”. Many in the world would. But, to me it shows the depth of God’s love, the intimacy of His care for me.

And, as much as I miss my earthly husband and his care of me, I know that my Heavenly Husband has a capacity to care for me in ways that Keith did not. In that, I can rest, regardless of the circumstances.

As I go through this life and many of its worries, I pray that I can always see God’s hand guiding as clearly and as quickly as I did in this situation. He is there, sisters for all our pain and sorrows, for all our heartache and uncertainty, for all our rebuilding and our wrestling.

Dear Father, in this world we will have trouble. We know that. And sometimes it is so hard to take, especially as widows. Please help us to always trust You and rest in You, for You love us more than we know, more than we can conceive. Thank You for Your love and care. Thank You for Your hand in the hard times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.