Draw Near
Lessons Learned Through a Loss of a Spouse, a Faith Building Experience
by
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After my husband died, I was so lost. These were some of the darkest times of my life. My cup was empty, and I certainly didn’t consider having any light in me. I felt I had nothing to give anyone else. I wanted to get away from empty thoughts and empty feelings. But I truly had hope. Each moment I faced, each hour and each day I clung to the One who helped me find the light again. It didn’t happen quickly but in time the light began to shine brighter. While you may not realize it others in your life are praying for you and thinking about you. Your response to others, through simple connections or brief times together can shine a light from your despair. God can bring the new hope needed to make a difference in your life. Cultivating practices like gratitude, prayer and time alone with the Lord can bring the spark of hope that truly does shine to others. You may also find that seeking out others who have travelled this grief journey can help you feel that you are not alone. In connecting with others there is a sense of shared experiences and understanding. What you’ve experienced may bring a light of hope to someone else
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About the Book
For Carol Affholder, the life-changing phone call came on May 5, 2012, at six thirty in the evening. Her husband had been in a terrible accident, and he did not survive. She sat in her living room and cried out to God, and she felt His presence in that tragic moment. Somehow, God sustained her, despite such terrible loss.
Carol knows first hand that the grief journey never ends completely, but it changes over time. She has met women who are held captive by their grief and struggle to move on. She has learned that it’s not a case of moving on but of adapting to a new reality. With God’s help, you can still have an abundant life filled with purpose.
This eight-week devotional aspires to help those who are grieving grow in their relationship with God. The God of the Universe controls all things, including our pain and hardship. He suffered for us and suffers with us. He walks alongside us in our grief journey, caring for our every need. Allow God to speak to you through Carol’s journey and journal questions. Carol prays that God will use this devotional to help you forge the path forward from unbearable pain to unbelievable closeness with Him.
About the Author
Carol Affholder experienced the great loss of her husband and found solace in turning towards God and all that He had to teach her. It is hoped her experiences will help others come closer to God, as well.