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Twice in one week I heard the same story from completely different sources. One was from the pulpit at my church and the other was on the Christian music station I have playing in my house. I couldn’t help but imagine this story relates to us as widows perfectly.

A little boy was playing with his toy sailboat on the shore of a quiet lake. When the wind pulled the sail boat away from the shoreline, he began to cry as it went farther and farther away.

His older brother came upon the scene and began throwing stones at his tiny boat. The young boy cried, “Why are you throwing stones at my boat?”

The brother said, “I’m throwing stones on the FAR side of your boat to create some waves to bring the sailboat BACK to you. Trust me; I know what I’m doing.”

Did you read that? “Trust me, I know what I’m doing.”

Does that hit you like it hits me? The little boat is my life. As I was busy living, I never noticed how I had begun to feel entitled. Trusting God was fairly easy while I was comfortable. I bobbled around in the warm waters, saying all the right things and living the right way. I knew the verses which included:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5 ESV

And then the bottom fell out. Widowhood was one of the many “rocks” that were coming at me. And like the small boy in the story, I shouted at God, “Stop throwing rocks at my life!” “I can’t take any more!” “Are you trying to destroy me?”

Charles Spurgeon, a famous Bible teacher and author from the 19th century, struggled with depression and painful diseases. He has many quotes you can find online that are as true today as they were a hundred years ago. One is this:

I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.

KISS THE WAVES.

I just love that phrase. It doesn’t mean some crass, sarcastic kissing. I believe it is more like embracing. Accepting. It is a different way to express the acceptance of Romans 8:28. The Amplified says it this way:

And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.

Those rocks that send waves our direction, they have a purpose. They push us closer to God, our anchor in the storms of life. Those trials, those difficulties, those battles with sin. They push us into the arms of the One Who loves us.

What is the alternative? The alternative is to fight against the waves and push away from the ripples that are drawing us to God. Trust me when I say, I KNOW that way is exhausting and a complete waste. I know, because I fought the waves for too long. The fighting just pulled me away from God and His loving arms. I couldn’t accept that He loved me when the rocks of life kept hitting me. Marriage crisis. Health decline. Broken relationships. Financial collapse. Death. Widowhood. I was rowing my little boat as hard as I could my own way, in my own strength. And I got no where.

We pray that A Widow’s Might ministry can assist you draw closer to the Rock of Ages. Let’s stop fighting against those waves and embrace that God wants to draw us to Himself.

Almighty Father, thank You for the love and care You have for us. When the storms of life rock our worlds, help us, guide us, hold us. Keep us from fighting against the difficulties and fully trust You. Amen