Relationship Shifts in WidowhoodSample

A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life—life in all its fullness.

John 10:10 (NCV)

Grace was a bright-eyed, life-of-the-party, social butterfly. She and her husband were always hosting dinners at their home or getting together with friends for summer lake trips and fall BBQs.

But when Grace tragically lost her husband, Mike, she felt as if the light went out. Getting together with their friends wasn’t the same without Mike there. Though the couples rallied around her after his death, she began to feel like the fifth wheel at any gathering. She wasn’t sure how to navigate her social life without him. Eventually, Grace started excusing herself from the invites, until slowly the invitations seemed to stop coming altogether.

Learning to navigate life alone is challenging, especially when you are used to doing life with other couples. As a widow, it can be easy to feel disconnected from others without your other half. But God never intended you to live a half-life. The scripture reading from today says that Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy. In this case, it might look like killing your future dreams, stealing your joy, and destroying the life you’ve built. But God came to give us life in its fullness. Full of joy. Full of peace. Full of healthy relationships.

No matter the enemy’s attempts, God’s purpose still prevails - in this case, through His promise of a full life. God desires that we have a life that is overflowing with His joy, His goodness, and His peace. But He doesn’t just want us to have it; the scripture says He already gave it to us. He took all pain, sickness, and sorrow on the cross so that we could live a full life here and now no matter what we experience or go through.

So, when the enemy tells you “Your life is over,” or “It will never be as good as… the same as… as happy as…” you have to put a stop to those lies. The truth is that Jesus came to give you a full life and He never goes back on his promises. It may not look like the same life you had several months or years ago, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be just as full and just as beautiful in future seasons as it was in past seasons.

QUESTIONS:

Have you experienced the enemy whispering some of those lies to you in this season? How can you believe in seeing God’s promise of a full life? As you begin this study, remember these promises from God as you complete the next 4 days.

CHALLENGE:

Write out some specific steps you will take to combat the enemy’s lies and keep them in a place where you can see them every day!