Widow for a Season: Finding
Your
Identity in Christ
Chapter Eleven: Conclusion
Summary:
The first part of
chapter eleven is a recap of the major themes in Widow for a
Season: Finding Your Identity in Christ. The second section of the
chapter turns to a discussion about the Hebrew word for widow, almanah (al maw
naw), that literally means "a desolate place." We will learn
how the word itself can give us insight into this season of widowhood apart from
the development of spiritual maturity through suffering. We will examine several
examples from the life of Christ and Elijah as we begin to unravel the greater
plan that God may have for us in this season of a widow, set apart by God.
Excerpt:
Chapter Eleven – Conclusion
Embracing
the Desolate Place
In the Hebrew text, the word for widow is almanah (al-maw-naw) and
according to Strong’s Concordance it means a desolate place: —
desolate house. 1 It is interesting that God uses these terms
to describe the season of widowhood we have entered into.
The very word desolate conjures up pictures of wastelands devoid of
life or places of sorrow and abandonment without hope.
And if we are honest, don’t we sometimes feel like this describes
us? What is interesting is
that in contrast to our desire to escape this desolate place of widowhood
Scripture shows us that Christ seems to welcome the desolate places of His
experience. In fact, He seems
to emerge from them with renewed power, direction, and strength.
I think it’s worth a closer look.
