Have you ever found yourself in a place in life that was absent of Judah (praise)? While if we just think and examine close enough, there is always something for which to be grateful. But life can throw you some blows that shroud the goodness around you. The book of Ruth tells the story of one such woman, named Naomi.
In an attempt to avoid famine in her hometown, Naomi traveled with her husband and sons to Moab. During her time there she lost her husband and eventually her two sons. Left widowed, alone, and hopeless in a foreign land. Yet she heard the news of God blessing in her hometown and made the decision to go back home.
Although she was going back to a place she had been before, she wasn’t the same. Her condition had changed. She went out married and came back widowed. She went out with children and came back childless. She left full of hope but was returning hopeless. She was coming back bitter, full of sorrow, and blaming God for her plight.
Like Naomi, I have encountered changes during my life journey. Changes that were for the worse instead of better. Changes that led me back to square one again. Only this time my heart wasn’t as open as before. I wasn’t as hopeful as before. I wasn’t rehearsing His goodness as before. Why? Because I thought I heard God, but it didn’t turn out the way I expected. Or because I experienced loss or disappointment.
Each of our lives have episodes of loss, disappointment, grief, bad decision-making but our stories don’t have to end there. All the while Naomi was going about trying to survive, God was orchestrating a plan. He was ushering her back to a place in life, one that she couldn’t even conceive in her own mind, that was leading to hope and praise. And He’s doing that for you and me. All the times I cried about loss, I didn’t readily see that He would bring new experiences, which would lead me back to hope, faith, and love again.
God is one who is in the details of our lives. He is in the midst of our everyday affairs, and He can make sense of all the randomness.
You expressed very well the disappointments that we go through…I am happy that you have hope back.
All I'll say here is, "Yes, Lord, Yes". I am say yes to God still, even if I don't know which way is up, even if it feels as if I have not advanced one step this whole year, even if I have had more disappointments than I can count. I am say Yes because I absolutely refuse to turn back.
Very well written Wanda, I am pleased you feel you have hope.
Take care.
Yvonne.
Just absolutely beautiful.
This was my favorite thought:
"God is one who is in the details of our lives. He is in the midst of our everyday affairs and He can make sense of all the randomness."
Yes, there is no such thing as "random" or "chaotic" or "unintended" in the life of a Christ follower. God has every thread firmly in His hand, and He faithfully weaves them into a beautiful tapestry that reflects His image.
It's so much better if we let Him control the pattern from the very beginning – there's a lot less to tear out and do over!!
I love the story of Naomi and Ruth – I just posted something about it on Sunday. Such a testimony of God's hand on a life, directing it behind the scenes, to HIS perfect ending.
Thanks for sharing, Wanda.
GOD BLESS!
I love your writing, there is always so much hope and you inspire me so much..Thank you for this wonderful post and all of your posts..Blessings, Susie
Wanda, this is really good. We often see going back as failure and forget that God always has a plan. "All the while Naomi was going about trying to survive, God was orchestrating a plan." Amen!
Oh, I see myself here. Faced with disappointment, I kick at the dirt and stir up a whirlwind of whining. Not pretty. Sometimes I forget God is in the wilderness. Thanks for this reminder. 🙂
Deidra, I've done my share of whining as well. Lisa you're right going back is not always a bad thing. Sometimes during our lives we drift away from God and the things of God and need to go back. Susie thank you so much! Oh so true Sharon all that looks random to us is absolutely no surprise to God and its just one of those things He's using for our greater good. Yvonne thanks! Bluebutterfly a continually yes is what we all need. Kim life is full of disappointments of some kind but as long we are here we are not without hope. Thanks to each of you for sharing your thoughts. Blessings.