Women who are facing the reality of widowhood are often connected by a common thread of grief and uncertainty. Hope for an Aching Heart offers encouragement to help readers handle the challenges of each day with God’s grace. Sharing from a widow’s heart, the author weaves personal stories, Scripture, and prayers into 60 days of inspirational thoughts that motivate readers to draw closer to God. This heartfelt and engaging devotional helps to broaden women’s understanding of the depth of God’s love, His tender care, and His promise to always be with them.

Dear Widowed Friend, As I have traveled this path, retracing my first year's journey without Bobby, it has been quite painful, as you can probably guess. However, it has been worth traveling this road again if somehow this devotional and my widowhood experience in this first year has helped you. It is with a humble heart, that I ask God to take this devotional and use it to minister to the new widow as well as to the seasoned widow. God is beginning to restore joy in my life. Having found my new purpose in life and reaffirming the Lordship of Jesus-reaffirming my love for Him above all else-this has made for the beginning of major healing in my heart. Will the time ever come when there will be no pain for us? I don't know, because I'm still on this journey with you. At this point, there are many things that I do not know, but I do know the One who does, and his name is Jesus Christ! I pray that if you don't know this Jesus-my Savior and friend-that you would come to know Him today! Remember that I care that you hurt and I'm praying for you! Peggy Latchem Widowed 01-17-04

Life crises threaten our spiritual stability. Losing a loved one—whether or not you expect their death—is always traumatic. The trauma of adjusting to the new identity of widow while facing a multitude of questions and urgent decisions can be overwhelming. In this book of 60 meditations, Nell Noonan candidly shares her experiences in the 26 months after the death of her husband. She describes her journey in grief as packed with blessings and brokenness. Despite the low points, she managed to find God in the midst of bereavement. Noonan acknowledges that each person's grief journey is unique. "My writing is not meant to tell anyone what or how or when to do anything," Noonan says. "The devotions are only meant to be messages that I want to hold your hand, feel our pain, and hopefully we will be able to inch slowly, step-by-step into being more whole, less broken—into new, peace-filled life." This book will help widows, whether they choose to read it alone or with a group. A good resource for grief support groups, and an appropriate gift to show your concern for any woman grieving the loss of her husband.

Margaret Nyman learned of her husband’s cancer only 42 days before he died. After four decades of marriage to Nate, she was thrown into widowhood, with all the emotions and questions that follow. She reached out to God with her aching heart, and now she’s helping other widows to do the same in her book Prayers for a Widow’s Heart. This Scripture-based book of 60 prayers brings hope and healing to widows by offering heartfelt prayers and biblical reminders of God’s promises.

Single at 32, married at 33, and widowed at 34. Virginia Lloyd finally meets the man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, only to discover he is dying from cancer. After John dies, Virginia must battle the chronic rising damp in the house they had shared. And so in her first year as a young widow, Virginia, like the house, must dry from the inside out. "The Young Widow's Book of Home Improvement" is a wry and touching love story that plays with the parallels between our homes and ourselves.

Have you recently lost your husband? Are there days when you feel so terribly alone—and that no one else could possibly understand? Author Gayle Roper understands. As a recent widow herself, Gayle writes: So who am I now that there's only one place at the table...one pillow with a head dent, one damp towel after a shower. There's only one toothbrush in the holder. The seat is never left up anymore. I can still write Mrs. in front of my name, but I'm no longer in a marriage relationship. You need two people for a marriage, and there's only me. Is there only you? Then join Gayle as she draws on her emotions during the loss of her beloved husband, Chuck, and offers you a compassionate devotional to encourage you through your darkest days. Gayle knows a widow's pain is deep. But she also knows God's love is deeper still. And it's in His love you'll find your deepest comfort.

Writing from a biblical perspective, Carol Cornish helps readers to discover how God is working in the midst of the deep distress of losing a spouse. She provides the reader with direction in finding true and lasting comfort in Christ. Cornish, who lost her husband of 38 years to lung cancer, encourages widows to use their widowhood for God's glory. Ministry to widows needs to be a priority for Christian communities, and Cornish equips churches, families, and friends to come alongside those mourning the loss of a spouse. The Undistracted Widow includes sections to help widows find renewed identity and purpose. Cornish helps readers trust in God, manage emotions, learn from both biblical and contemporary widows, rethink the past, present, and future, and prepare for what's next. Pastors, churches, and others will benefit from practical appendices. Any woman who is grieving the loss of her husband, or who knows of someone in mourning, will find this to be a valuable resource.

Dear Father, As the anniversary of our wedding draws near, I pray again that You hold my husband in Your gentle embrace. Share with him the endless joy of knowing You. Shower him with Your love and grace. Remind him, if it be Your will, of my undying love for him. These days are sometimes hard for me, as memories of our sweet vows wring my heart and tears flow silently. As I walk this earth alone, I ask You, please, for grace. Give me courage, Lord, for in my weakness You are strong. I have placed my faith in You. O Lord, I pray that on the day my journey ends, and I come home to You, that my beloved be there waiting, too. Reunite us for all eternity in Your everlasting love. Until then, I wait in hopeful faith and pray to You. Amen. This is a prayer book like no other, written by a widow for widows. The prayers center on the emotions and situations a widow faces. It is a powerful resource for grief ministers, family members, and friends.

Pastors and church leaders are responsible for countless things. Unfortunately, in many churches, ministry to widows remains largely neglected and forgotten. Highlighting the Bible’s recurring commands to care for widows with sensitivity and compassion, this book encourages church leaders to think carefully about how to serve the widows in their congregations and suggests practical strategies to that end. In part 1, the authors summarize the Bible’s consistent teaching regarding the care of widows. In part 2, the authors offer hands-on counseling and a host of practical suggestions related to ensuring that widows receive the support and encouragement they need to thrive in the church.

Joyce Rogers, a recently widowed, highly respected woman of faith, helps others with profound and practical tips on how to weather the pain of loss and see God's plan for the future.