Who is the saddest person in the Bible?
My vote goes to a woman we meet in Luke 7. We do not know her name, age, or what happened to her husband or, for that matter, her son. All we know is that she is a widow who lives in the little village of Nain and, when we meet her, her worst nightmare has just come true. She is accompanying her only son’s body as they take him to the cemetery to be buried.
Being a widow in New Testament times was difficult. Being a widow who lost her only son was a disaster! Women did not work outside the home. They relied on their husband or their male children to provide for them. In other words, not only was this woman sad and grieving, but she was also in big trouble! Fortunately, her situation was about to change again. She was about to meet Jesus.
Scripture tells us that when Jesus saw her, “His heart went out to her” (Luke 7:13). Other translations say, “He felt deep (or great) compassion for her”. I am told that the Greek expression here is the strongest one possible. Jesus did not feel a little sorry for her. His heart broke on her behalf! That is why he went to the casket, raised the boy from the dead and gave him back to his mother (verses 14-15).
When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances, it is tempting to wonder if God sees or cares at all. Even worse, we can conclude that God is angry at us or that he is mean. None of that is true!
You may not always get what you want, but never doubt that God sees, knows, and loves you. Never, for a moment, think he does not care. That simply is not true!
Just ask the widow of Nain!
“The Lord is close to the broken-hearted” (Psalm 34:18)
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