Mothers of the Bibleنموونە

The Widow of Nain: Jesus Sees and Restores

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry." —Luke 7:13, NIV

The morning started like so many others—running behind a schedule that never seemed to slow down, a toddler refusing to wear socks and my coffee growing cold on the counter. In the mayhem, I tripped over my son’s toy car and fell onto the kitchen tile. And trust me: It wasn’t graceful at all.

I needed to get up quickly. There was still so much to do, and the seconds were only ticking faster. But that day, I didn’t want to stand up. So, I stayed there on the cold floor with my head heavy in my hands. It wasn’t just the toy car; it was everything—the isolation of motherhood, the unrelenting demands, the stress over plans with friends that never seemed to work out. “Does anyone even notice how hard this is?” I whispered to the empty room.

Luke 7:13 tells us of a woman whose pain was undeniable. She was the widow of Nain, following her only son’s lifeless body to the grave. In a culture where men were often the sole providers, this woman faced more than grief: She faced complete loss and uncertainty. Yet, as her procession moved through the town, Jesus stopped. The verse says, “When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her, and he said, ‘Don’t cry’” (NIV).

Jesus didn’t need to be told her story; he saw her pain, and his compassion moved him to action. Approaching her son’s coffin, Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” (Luke 7:14, NIV). Then, “the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother” (Luke 7:15, NIV). In a moment, Jesus did the impossible: He transformed her sorrow into joy and her loss into hope.

As moms, we often carry silent burdens. Perhaps it’s the ache of losing someone dear, the grief of the life you used to have, or the relentless weariness of pouring into others and not getting anything in return. We wonder if anyone truly sees the depths of our pain. Luke 7:13 shows us that Jesus does. His gaze isn’t indifferent: His heart is moved by our struggles.

Challenge: Will you bring your struggles to Jesus today? Lay your worries at his feet and trust him to meet you in your pain. Let his presence bring you comfort and his promise renew your hope.