"Tell her: I AM . . ."

"What should I do?" the widow asked me as I handed her a tissue. "I don't know if I should stay in my home or sell it. I'm so anxious all the time. All these changes are so difficult."

This is when you have to weigh your words carefully. Listening is best - often they will arrive at their own conclusions.

"Why don't you vocalize all your concerns to the Lord right now - I'll support you." I said.

She instantly bowed her head and started to pray.

After awhile, she paused. (That's when it's time to stop and listen.) We sat for several minutes in the warmth of His tangible Presence. So sweet. Then a clear thought entered my mind, "Tell her: I Am. . ."

She looked a bit puzzled when I told her. I was too, so we got our Bibles.

I opened to the book of John where I had a list of seven times Jesus say, "I Am . . ."

"I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger." John 6:35 He will satisfy every longing of our heart. He will nourish us and sustain us with His life while we walk through every circumstance in life.

"I am the light . . . he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness . . ." John 8:12 He will light the way. Everything seems dark at first, but we have the light of Life to follow.

"I am the gate; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved . . ." John 10:9 He is the keeper of all our gates, or doors - if we go in and out through Him we know we will be protected.

" I am the good shepherd, the good shepherd lays down His life for His sheep." John 10:11 This is how much He loves us . . . He laid His life down . . . He is a good shepherd - He will never let us wander down the wrong path. He protects us and leads us. He will anoint our head with comforting oil.

"I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies." John 11:25 When you lose a loved one, you may feel dead inside - as if you, and all you knew, was buried with them. But the Lord of Life will bring your resurrection. He is the new life to come. His plan for your life has not ended.

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me." John 14:6 He can be trusted to show us the way, tell us the truth and bring new life. We have an open audience with the Heavenly Father - Jesus paved the way.

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." John 15:1 He will tend you as a loving Gardner. He will take care of what needs to be pruned away. Do not fear - trust your Gardner to take care of you.

When she left I sat back and marveled at how He had met us, fed us, and filled a couple of widows with amazing hope and joy. When we are hurting, it's easy to forgive what we need the most must come from Him. What a happy thing!