August Vlog 2026
Marriage or Singleness After Widowhood: Seeking God’s Best for Your Next Chapter
By Mary Beth Woll and Linda Smith
Marriage or Singleness After Widowhood: Seeking God’s Best for Your Next Chapter
After the death of a spouse, one of the most common questions widows and widowers eventually ask is, “Should I remarry?” Others ask the opposite question: “Is God calling me to remain single?” Scripture offers wisdom for both paths, reminding us that neither marriage nor singleness is inherently more spiritual than the other. What matters most is discerning God’s unique calling for your life.
Recently, the co-directors of the Widows Project, Mary Beth Woll and Linda Smith, shared their personal journeys—one leading toward remarriage and the other toward contentment in singleness. Their conversation offers encouragement for anyone navigating life after loss.
A Joyful New Beginning
Mary Beth announced that she will be marrying Tim Smith this September after seven years of widowhood. Their wedding will be a private ceremony followed by a reception with family and friends.
Mary Beth’s late husband, Bob, passed away seven years ago. Although she first met Tim years earlier while serving together on a church worship team, it wasn’t until both had experienced the loss of a spouse that they reconnected. Their shared love for worship ministry created a strong foundation for friendship, which slowly and naturally grew into a loving relationship over the course of a year and a half.
For Mary Beth, remarriage isn’t about replacing the love she shared with Bob. Rather, it is about embracing the new chapter that God has lovingly written for her life.
Two Women, Two Different Callings
While Mary Beth prepares for marriage, Linda has chosen a different path.
After much prayer and reflection, Linda believes God has called her to remain single. She finds great joy in the flexibility that singleness provides. Without the responsibilities of marriage, she is free to make decisions quickly, travel when God opens doors, and devote her energy fully to ministry.
Linda also acknowledges that living alone has its challenges. Household repairs, car maintenance, and home projects are now entirely her responsibility. Yet she believes the blessings of her calling outweigh the inconveniences.
Mary Beth, on the other hand, recognizes that she functions best as part of a team. She has always been a collaborator, both in ministry and in life. She believes God has created her to thrive in partnership, and she sees that same complementary relationship developing with Tim.
Their stories beautifully illustrate an important truth: God’s will is not identical for everyone.
What Does the Bible Say?
Their conversation centered on the teachings of 1 Corinthians 7, where the Apostle Paul discusses both marriage and singleness.
Paul explains that remaining single allows a person to devote undivided attention to serving the Lord without the additional responsibilities that naturally come with marriage. Yet he is equally clear that choosing to marry is not sinful. Marriage itself is God’s idea, established from the very beginning of creation.
The Bible therefore presents two honorable paths:
Remaining single in wholehearted devotion to Christ.
Marrying another believer and serving God together.
Neither choice is superior. The important question is not, “What should everyone do?” but rather, “What is God asking me to do?”
One biblical principle remains non-negotiable: if a believer chooses to remarry, that marriage should be “in the Lord.” Christians are called to marry fellow believers so they are spiritually united in their faith and purpose.
God Uses Every Season
Both women reflected on how God has redeemed the pain of widowhood.
Since losing their husbands—Linda thirteen years ago and Mary Beth seven years ago—they have written books, expanded an international ministry, and walked alongside thousands of grieving widows and widowers.
Rather than allowing sorrow to define them, they have allowed God to transform their loss into compassionate ministry. They believe God often uses our deepest wounds to become the places from which we most effectively minister to others.
A Continuing Commitment to Widows and Widowers
Mary Beth also reassured those who may wonder whether marriage means stepping away from widow ministry.
Her answer is a wholehearted no.
She remains deeply committed to walking beside those who have lost a spouse. She believes this calling comes directly from Christ, whose ministry included binding up the brokenhearted. The Bible repeatedly reminds believers to care for widows and orphans, recognizing the profound pain that accompanies such loss.
Together, Mary Beth and Linda remain committed to helping grieving people rediscover peace, joy, hope, and purpose after loss.
Looking Ahead
As their ministry continues to grow, the organization is preparing for a new name: Healing Hope for the Widowed. The new name better reflects their mission to serve not only widows but widowers as well, through support groups, retreats, online communities, and resources that now reach people across the United States and around the world.
Final Thoughts
Whether God calls someone to remarry or to remain single, both paths can glorify Him.
Some will find renewed strength serving alongside a spouse. Others will discover tremendous freedom and effectiveness in singleness. Neither choice is a measure of spiritual maturity; both are gifts that God gives according to His purpose for each individual.
For anyone walking the difficult road of widowhood, perhaps the most comforting truth is this: God knows your heart. He knows your desires. He knows your future. As you continue to seek Him, He is fully able to lead you into the next chapter He has prepared—whether that chapter includes marriage, singleness, or simply learning to trust Him one day at a time.
Mary Beth Woll & Linda Smith
Healing Hope for the Widowed
If this article encouraged you, The Widows Project offers community, support groups, and practical resources to help widows walk forward with faith, strength, and hope.
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