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Winter in Texas

Texans often find themselves the targets of ridicule and criticism as forecasters warn of winter storms on local television.

Warning! Warning!

Stock up now! Don’t be caught unprepared!

I used to ignore those warnings—excitement building at the prospect of a winter storm that would bring beautiful snow to the area.

That was before my in-house weather-watcher, protector of all pipes and vehicles, went Home to be with Jesus.

The recent winter storm in Texas not only raised concern for widows and those living alone but also brought great tragedy to many families.

With each new weather update, news of such tragedy spread, and the whole state felt the pain of those families and their great losses.

Across the state, we cried out for God’s comfort.

How many times have we desperately cried out for God’s help and comfort?

In this season of widowhood, I have learned so much about the compassionate heart of the Lord and His love for me.

To grasp the personal, intimate ways God comforts us, we must know His heart.

If someone asked you the question, “Who knows you better than anyone else on this earth?” What would your answer be? My mind would quickly go to my husband, Steve.

Steve knew me so well. He expressed his love for me in many wonderful and personal ways.

Arriving home from work one afternoon and not finding him in the house, I began to search for him. I found him on the back porch filling up all the hummingbird feeders for me. Such overwhelming love filled my heart at that moment because I KNEW he only did that for me – because I loved the hummingbirds so much.

If we could sit down together, we could share the most wonderful memories of the personal things our husbands did for us… because they LOVED us and knew it would make us so happy.

Truthfully, though, the right answer is “God knows us far better than our husbands ever could.”

God moves in ways that are so personal that even we can be taken by surprise in the intimacy of His comfort.

Just days ago, stomping across the ice around the pool pumps, trying to cover the pipes with whatever I could find in the storage shed, I asked the Lord…

“Did You change Your mind, Lord, about it not being good for man to be alone?” (Putting myself right there with “man” being alone.)

I instantly felt guilty about the question, as it came from frustration, missing Steve, my limitations, and frigid temperatures.

His answer came very quickly and clearly.

This was never My plan, Kathy. As I saw Adam’s need, I see your need, too.

And I remembered that God created a beautiful world where there would be no sorrow or separation – recognizing the great need we would have for those He gave to us.

Sin destroyed that beautiful world God created.

My next thought was that God understands my needs, and He truly has a heart of compassion for all widows.

“The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help.”
1 Timothy 5:5 (NIV)

His heart has never changed.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV)

When we feel like we just cannot do this life alone, and cry out to God…

Remember His Word to us.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
Isaiah 43:2

And when moments of loneliness and need come, watch for God’s intimate and personal comfort.

Can you share a time when you knew instantly that God was bringing comfort to your heart in such a personal way that it could only be Him?

Just as filling the hummingbird feeders was such a personal act of love by Steve, I have seen God move in such personal ways that I had to ask, “Is this YOU, Lord?”

Steve and I always loved to see 11:11 on the clock. It came twice a day, but we usually saw it together at the end of the day. We always made a big deal about it – celebrating 11:11 and telling each other “Goodnight. I love you”.

It was just one of those sweet, crazy moments we shared.

I cannot tell you how many times I have struggled with this new normal, fighting it with all I have, only to look up and see 11:11 on the clock.

It stopped me in the middle of a fit of despair that first time as I was telling the Lord, “This is just too hard for me!” And there it was, 11:11. And the Holy Spirit said, “I’m right here.”

Something so simple – yet so personal that you have to stop and say,

I KNOW That was YOU, Lord!

His love is intimate and personal.

Watch for Him! Don’t miss it!

Father God, thank You for the comfort You bring to our hearts as we cry out to You. Oh, the love we feel as You use such personal things to show us, WE ARE NEVER ALONE. Amen