Carol W. Cornish - The Undistracted Widow: Living for God After Losing Your Husband

The
UNDISTRICTED
WIDOW

Most wives will taste the grief of widowhood. For those who have been blessed with a solid, lifelong marriage, the processes of loss will be especially varied, prolonged, and exquisitely painful. Yes, this is the probable future for most of us; in fact, many of you may already be there. Painful separation is expected. What isnt expected is the sincere faith and profound devotion illustrated on these pages. Out of her deep grief and deeper faith, Carol has written a book that will comfort, guide, and encourage you as you face the dayalone, but not really alone. Yes, these pages are tear-stained, but more importantly, they are stained with the blood of a suffering Savior who is walking with you now. TheUndistracted Widow will help you see him, will draw your gaze up to the One who has gone before you, and will help you trust again. I heartily recommend it!

Elyse Fitzpatrick, author, Because He Loves Me and Comforts from the Cross

I read Carols book because I knew her before Rollie died. I was confident that whatever she wrote about being a widow would be clear, practical, and filled with wonderful encouragement to keep turning to Jesus, and it was all that and more. My plan was to pass the book on to a widow, which I will still do, but now I will be sure to have a copy handy. This one-stop book is as relevant to widowers as it is to widows. Neither my wife nor I are in those categories yet, but one of us will probably be there someday, and I want Carols book to be close by.

Ed Welch, counselor and faculty, Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF)

Carol Cornish has written more than a book about how to be a godly widow; she has compiled a comprehensive manual addressing all aspects of widowhood while maintaining a razor-like focus on the matchless insights found solely in the Word of God. For the widow searching through her grief for God, Carol becomes what she suggests every widow should look for: a living road map pointing unswervingly to Gods wisdom and love as revealed in his unfailing Word.

Patti McCarthy Broderick, Christian counselor; author, He Said, Press

Being acquainted with Carol for several years, I can say that the counsel she offers in TheUndistracted Widow is that of painful yet faithful experience in the pursuit of Christ. The result of her experience, filtered throughout with biblical investigation, is practical and helpful counsel to women seeking to honor God in their widowhood. This is certainly a book every church will want to keep in its library.

Fred G. Zaspel, Pastor, Reformed Baptist Church, Franconia, Pennsylvania

Carol offers not simply consolation but direction. This is truly a book for the Christian widow.

Sally Miller, Lansdale, Pennsylvania

In The Undistracted Widow, Carol Cornish has fulfilled her desire to comfort others with the comfort she herself has received from the Lord. She offers hope, reassurance, and practical help to those grieving the loss of their spouse. The way she uses Scripture to dialogue with the One who suffers with her and for her is especially compelling. This book is truly the fruit of an undistracted widow.

Jayne V. Clark, Associate Dean of Students, Westminster Theological Seminary; author, Single and Lonely: Finding the Intimacy You Desire

Since the days of his earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus has never stopped caring for widows. This wonderful book draws our eyes to him, whether for personal comfort or for sound guidance as we seek to care for our loved ones who mourn.

John Muhlfeld, Senior Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Harleysville, Pennsylvania

The Undistracted Widow is so full of godly wisdom that my heart sang through each chapter. Carol has made her biblical encouragement and precious truths flow with the Lords lavish grace and tender mercies. It is obvious that Carol is not theorizing, but sharing her own experiences of having the Lord walk with her and guide her through her grief. The book is a wonderful tool for the biblical counselor, for pastors, and for all disciples and disciplers. I was greatly comforted and uplifted by the entire book.

Diane A. Tyson, counselor; teacher; contributing author, Women Helping Women

As a pastors wife and biblical counselor, I am thankful to have this resource. TheUndistracted Widow not only provides widows with practical, biblical instruction, but also affords preparatory insights to people who have not experienced the sharp trial of losing a spouse. I highly recommend this book for widows and for those who love and minister to them.

Rachel Miller, conference speaker

The Undistracted Widow is not only for women who have lost their husbands through death but also for those living without male leadership in their homes as a result of divorce or singleness. Carol helps us to turn our gaze, without distraction, to the lover of our souls, Jesus Christ, as she explores every emotion, challenge, and circumstance of living alone. This strongly biblical and practical look at widowhood is long overdue.

Penny Orr, contributing author, Women Helping Women; womens ministry leader

The Undistracted Widow: Living for God after Losing Your Husband

Copyright 2010 by Carol W. Cornish

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Cover design: Faceout Studio, www.faceoutstudio.com

Cover photo: Millennium Images Ltd.

First printing 2010

Printed in the United States of America

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The HolyBible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are from The New American Standard Bible. Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.

Scripture references marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica.

Scripture references marked NLT are from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Ill., 60189. All rights reserved.

All emphases in Scripture quotations have been added by the author.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-1232-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-1233-9
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-1234-6
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-2362-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cornish, Carol, 1945
The undistracted widow : living for God after losing your husband /
Carol Cornish.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references (p. ).
ISBN: 978-1-4335-1232-2 (tpb)
1. Consolation. 2.WidowsReligious life. 3. BereavementReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.