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Nafisa Morris is a young widow who writes Rekindling Joy, a blog that encourages others who have suffered similar losses. Her husband Trevor died while traveling for work in July of 2017, leaving her and their four young children to face life without him.

She says, “This site was born out of my love of writing, the lack of resources I found for women like me, and the prayers and encouragement of friends.”

First of all, Valentine’s Day is a stupid holiday. We are still getting over buying Christmas gifts for everyone, and now we’re supposed to get our kids stuffies they will only play with for a day and tons of candy???

 I already have to drink way too much coffee to keep up with them; there is no way I’m going to fuel them with sugar! Also, the candy wrappers in my house have a really tough time finding their way to the trash…

I am fortunate that my husband and I never did much for Valentine’s, but maybe it’s different for you. Maybe your love went over the top. Regardless, it’s tough because it does remind you of what you no longer have –

… the marriage you had but never chose to end. 

…the cruel fact that instead of going out with your husband for this holiday, you’d have to visit him in a cemetery. 

But here lies our hope.

First Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that we don’t grieve like others do. As believers, because of the ultimate love that God showed us on the cross, we don’t have to grieve without hope. When we were told our husbands were no longer in this world, they were already in glory! 

It’s miserable news for us, but the greatest news for them! Today, we may not have someone to celebrate with, but what we can celebrate is the knowledge that we know where our husbands are (because of their faith in Christ), and that, because of our faith in Christ, we will one day be with them. As depressing as this day might be, that is something that can always give us hope and a reason to keep pressing on.

Don’t let the enemy whisper lies to your heart today! He knows it’s so easy to discourage you and make you feel abandoned or unloved. Let’s take a look at some Scriptures that tell us otherwise. When you’re struggling today, preach these truths to your heart:

• “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places” Isaiah 58:11.

• “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” Habakkuk 1:5.

• “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.  He will not leave you or forsake you” Deuteronomy 31:6.

• “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” Romans 5:8.

• “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?  Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call.  This I know, that God is for me” Psalm 56:8-9.

• “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11.

Life is hard.

It hurts.  

It’s hard to feel loved by God when he took the person in this world you loved the most.  I get it.  

Last summer, I had the word “loved” etched into my skin as a reminder to myself that I am still loved by an almighty God, even on the days that I feel alone.  The greatest tool we have to combat the lies of the enemy is the word of God and our trust in him.  When we put our faith in Him, even on the hard days, we “extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one.”  (Ephesians 6:16)

On this silly but difficult day, let us remember that instead of messing with Cupid’s arrows and frilly hearts, let’s concentrate on something far greater… 

…the love and will of our living, all-knowing, all-present, sovereign God who has promised over and over in Scripture to never leave us or forsake us.  

That’s something worth celebrating today.  (And it doesn’t hurt to have some chocolate while you’re celebrating either!)

Nafisa Morris

https://rekindlingjoy.com