The Chair, The Table, and The Lamp

A Journey from Grief to Purpose

Many widows know what it feels like to stare at an empty chair.

A chair that once held conversation, companionship, and the person you loved most. After loss, life changes in ways we never expected. The quiet becomes louder, and everything familiar suddenly feels different.

Recently, the Lord brought me to 2 Kings 4:10, where the Shunammite woman prepared a room with a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp. As I read it, I realized those pieces beautifully reflect the journey many widows walk through with God.

The Chair

The chair represents the beginning of grief. It is the place where tears fall, questions rise, and our hearts feel broken and uncertain.

Psalm 34:18 says:

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted…”

The chair may feel lonely, but it is often where God meets us most personally. It is sacred ground where He quietly holds us together and reminds us we are not alone.

The Table

The table represents healing and connection.

Psalm 23:5 says:

“You prepare a table before me…”

At the table, we gather with others, share our stories, pray together, and begin learning how to live again. Healing often happens in community, where someone finally understands the pain we carry.

The table reminds us we were never meant to walk through grief alone.

The Lamp

The lamp represents your story becoming light for someone else.

Jesus said in Matthew 5:14:

“You are the light of the world.”

What once felt like only pain becomes testimony. Your honesty, faith, and survival through grief can help guide another widow through her own darkness.

Your story matters.

The Journey

The Chair — where you grieve.

The Table — where you heal and grow.

The Lamp — where you begin to shine.

No part of your story is wasted. God sees every tear, every prayer, and every step forward.

If you are in the chair today, God is near.

If you are at the table, keep receiving.

If your lamp is beginning to shine, do not hide it.

There is still purpose ahead.