Lori here ~ Do you know someone who’s grieving? Someone who needs solid, biblical reasons to hold on to faith while suffering the loss of someone they love? Let me introduce you to my friend Marilyn Nutter.

I met Marilyn in the years following the unexpected loss of her beloved husband. As I watched her navigate the heartbreak of widowhood, I was comforted (imagine this) by her faith and the way she and the Lord were walking through her loss and her new normal. As she learned how to survive (and even thrive) in her new stage of life, she wanted to share the lessons and comfort God had given her. The result was her first book with Our Daily Bread, Hope for Widows. I’ve given away this book away many times.

Now, hooray, she has a devotional to partner with this book, Mourning Glories: 40 Devotions on Grief, Faith and New Seasons for Widows. I asked her if I could share a sample devotion with my readers, and she said yes! I hope it blesses you. If you’re a widow or you know a widow, why not order a copy? You’ll be blessed and your friend will too.

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Road Signs

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

PSALM 119:105

Unpacking never-ending boxes is part of moving. But when you move to another state, you have additional tasks. In one of our moves, a new driver’s license meant tests—vision, written, and road sign recognition.

To say I was stressed is an understatement. Yes, I’ve been driving for over fifty years, but something about those trick questions stressed me. In fog, do I use emergency blinkers or low-beam lights? Do we park 200 or 400 feet from an emergency vehicle entrance?

I devoured the manual as if I were preparing for a final exam in grad school. Would I remember enough information to pass? I had to identify twelve road signs. Most were commonsense

and obvious. STOP means stop. But the blank ones were a surprise. What do you say about a blank sign? It’s yellow and has a particular shape. The point was to give the purpose of the

sign—to recognize and differentiate between warnings, regulatory, and informational/guide signs. The examiner also asked for an example. I felt nervous and intimidated, somewhat as if I were giving a speech to an audience of strangers.

We often encounter road signs in life apart from driving. Some are blank. “I didn’t see it coming,” we may have nervously lamented when we heard our husband’s diagnosis. The words “He didn’t make it” call us to a detour sign. Sometimes we face a dilemma and have no idea where to turn, despite words printed on signs. We’re intimidated by the unfamiliar. The sign is blank.

As we move forward in our new life season, heeding signs is critical for our well-being. Just as road signs offer warnings, regulations, and guidance, God’s Word offers light for our path.

• A caution sign may appear when we face a decision. It’s

our invitation not to move impulsively but to seek wisdom

before proceeding. (James 1:5) 

• A slippery-pavement sign reminds us to guard our responses in a conversation, or we may slide into a conflict. (Psalm 141:3–4)

• A warning sign tells us not to repeat behavior that wasn’t

healthy in the past. (Colossians 3:5)

• A median strip with arrows tells us to stay in our lane and

not compare our grief or our life with someone else’s. (John

21:20–22)

• A stop sign tells us to wait on God and be still. (Psalm 46:10)

Some signs are obvious. But sometimes we run into signs whose

information isn’t clear, and we’re not sure how to proceed. Perhaps

that’s our guidance, to slow down. Prayer, God’s Word, and other

trustworthy resources can show us whether to continue forward,

change course, or stop and wait.

We will always be safe when we observe a yield sign and submit to God’s time and direction. His Scriptures aren’t meaningless words—they are designed to give us life and safety (Deuteronomy 32:47).

Father, thank You for Your provision in my life. When I’m not thinking clearly, or when I want to move ahead, help me find direction and safety in You. Help me make more time to read Your Word so I know the safest and best way to live. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Reflection: Are you reading a clearly instructive road sign or facing a blank one today? Read Psalm 19 to look at the benefits of resting in God’s Word.

Practically Speaking: How can you practically observe the road signs God presents? Sometimes, in our stress or impatience, it’s wise to pull over to a rest area, collect our thoughts, and check

our motives. Proverbs 19:2 cautions us that we can lose the way when we’re hasty. Is there a person who can offer biblical advice or pray with you? Sometimes wise insight helps us gain perspective and see more clearly.

Today’s Mourning Glory Covering:

Be still, and know that I am God.  PSALM 46:10

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Mourning Glories: 40 Devotions on Grief, Faith and New Seasons for Widows was released June 23 by Our Daily Bread Publishing. It’s available on Amazon and bulk copies through ODBP. If you know a widow, consider sharing this devotional with her-forward this post-or gift her a copy of the book.

Marilyn Nutter serves as a facilitator for a grief support group for spouses at her church. The author of Hope for Widows, she also writes about weaving hope and purpose into our life stories at marilynnutter.com. She makes her home in South Carolina.

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