What Does God Say About Widows? | Hope Speaker
Becoming a widow changes so much about you, about your life... about everything. Most of the changes seem horrible, because they stem from the loss of your person, then ripple out into so many secondary losses from there.
When we think of a widow (or think of ourselves), what often comes to mind are all of the terrible things, like being:
Disadvantaged (poverty, without a partner, single parenting, etc.)
Bereft (lacking or deprived of something, or feeling sad and lonely because you have lost him)
Grieved the rest of our lives
Victimized (being targeted or stolen from by others, or sometimes we feel by God)
While those painful descriptors can be part of our messy, broken experience of widowhood, they are not our identity.
What's even more curious is that when we ask, ‘What does God say about widows?’ He reveals things that are completely different from that list when He looks at His widows, and when He puts them on display in the Bible for the entire church, through history, to see.
Sister, let's be encouraged and refreshed in what the LORD says about His Kingdom widows and what they display, because it is what He is saying about you and what is possible for you, too.
Here are just a couple brief but powerful examples to stir your heart (and the Spirit who dwells there). ❤️🔥
Ruth: A Redeemed Woman of Valor
The Biblical story of Ruth the widow is profound in many ways, but there are just two things I want to highlight in her story here.
1) Warrior of Valor
There is a very powerful word used in Ruth's story. That word in Scripture is khayil/chayil (in Hebrew: חַיִל).
It is a term signifying valor, strength, virtue and power. It was used for mighty warriors of God's people. It was the identity the angel gave Gideon when he was approached and called a "mighty man of valor/chayil" (Judges 6:12).
But the Bible also uses this word for women! While it is often translated into "noble" or "excellent" in Proverbs 31, it shouldn't lose the valor and might it is intended to carry.
And the one woman the Bible names as being a woman of valor/chayil? Ruth, the widow.
Right after she asks Boaz to take her in marriage as her kinsman redeemer, he replies:
"And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of chayil." -Ruth 3:11
2) Widowhood Redeemed
Boaz taking Ruth as his wife meant redemption for her late husband's name, for her own life and future beyond widowhood, and even for you and me... because Jesus came from her lineage!
In my widowhood, I had a verse from Ruth burned into wood and set it right in front of my bed, to continually remind myself of the possibilities ahead of me, too:
Then [Naomi said to Ruth], “Wait, my daughter, and see what happens..." -Ruth 3:18
Widow sister, here are your takeaways:
The Lord says something powerful about you: you are a warrior woman of valor in the Lord!
He has a plan to redeem your widowhood. It may be similar or different than Ruth, but He has a plan for His Kingdom through you, through this, that is far greater than you may be able to see or believe right now.
Sister, your story isn't over yet. Wait and see what happens...
The Widow's Mite: Generous Trust
Let's not forget this widow's moment comes right off the heels of Jesus warning against the religious leaders who "devour widows' houses" and who "will be punished most severely" (Luke 20:45-47).
It is one of many places God states he sees, cares for and fights for widows:
He is father to the fatherless and a defender of widows (Psalm 68:5)
He warns that they not be taken advantage of (Exodus 22:22)
Pure religion is caring for widows in their distress (James 1:27)
And much more...
Now, with that heart of protection and provision for widows setting the scene, let's drop into what happens next.
"Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins/lepta/mites. And he said, 'Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.' " -Luke 21:1-4
This moment takes place in an area of the temple called the court of women, and this offering box was a freewill offering box, which signifies that this widow's offering to God was completely voluntary.
By emphasizing that her gift was the "most" of all of them, Jesus points to something far beyond, and far greater, than the monetary amount. What made it plentiful was the spirit from which this widow gave freely to God- a spirit of generosity.
And, shockingly, Jesus knew and noted it was everything she had left, in her poverty. What an incredible act of surrender and trust to God, to willingly give all the monetary resources you had left in your widowhood. She was relying fully on God, not her means.
Again, Jesus points her and this act from her heart out to his disciples, highlighting the example of a poor widow to the few men he had chosen to follow and learn from him closely... and for her to be included in the Scriptures for all the Church's history to know as well.
While the story doesn't explicitly say what happened next in her story, God's heart of provision and protection for the widow that preceded him "looking up" and seeing her, as well as a plethora of verses and Biblical examples of his miraculous provision for widows (2 Kings 4:1–7, Luke 7:11–16, etc.) leads me to believe that he blessed her faith.
Are we this surrendered, trusting and confident of God in our story through widowhood? We could be. He sees us, hears us, protects, provides, and is eager to bless us, sister.
The Persistent Widow: Faith That Keeps Asking
Jesus often taught through parables: a short story used to explain a deeper spiritual truth about God and the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not an accident (rather, it is profound) that when he wanted to teach his disciples a valuable lesson about faith and perseverance in prayer, he chose a widow as his main character.
"Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up." -Luke 18:1
In the parable, the widow was a victim of injustice (have you experienced that in widowhood also sister?). She continually came with her plea for justice to the town judge and would not take his apathy or a "no," for an answer. In fact, she was so persistent she "wore [him] out with her coming!" (verse 5).
Jesus makes three points about this:
1) The widow's persistence for justice was effective in her circumstances. (In many ways, ours can be also, in our own widowhood, so keep persisting!)
2) How much more will our great and loving God respond to us than the unjust judge did for her? Be persistent in your prayers, sister! They move His heart and His hand.
3) Most of all, it's about FAITH:
"Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" -Luke 18:8
Nevertheless, or regardless of whether the exact circumstance of the persistent prayers comes to pass... will God find us in faith? Oomph. Right to the deepest heart of the matter.
Remember the first verse: "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up" (Luke 18:1). So, praying and not giving up (the point of it all) is linked to the point of it all at the end... Him returning and finding us in faith.
Persistence in trusting, coming to and asking God is faith.
Doing it in widowhood is a prime example of faith.
This Kingdom widow was a one who kept trusting, coming, and asking Abba for what she sought.
Sister, you and I are also Kingdom widows. Let's persist like we are.
What Does God Say About Widows? The Lord's Heart for His Brides
I hope this has helped you to see how God displays His heart for widows in the Bible:
He elevates and uses them as examples to all believers
He protects and provides for them
He empowers them with strength and valor
He redeems widowhood
He brings generosity from their poverty
He is worthy of their unhindered trust
He highlights their persistence
He focuses on their faith
And one more thing. Widowhood is only an earthly marital status. It doesn't exist in the heavenly, spiritual realm.
"For your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of hosts is his name." -Isaiah 54:5
"I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord." -Hosea 2:19-20
You are deeply loved, cherished, and spoken for as His Bride. Yes, right now.
Want more widowhood by faith?
Allow me to extend a warm invitation to The HOPE Stronghold, my virtual Christian widow community. We are grieving with HOPE, healing more deeply, and rebuilding redemptively... together.
With you sister,
Rachel
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