We must know—before, during, and after a tragedy—that what follows is not a dead end.
The dead end, the end of the line, the peace she once knew. All were gone forever. At least, that’s how Naomi felt when her life changed. She would take the broken pieces of what was left and return home.
Naomi had been blessed with a husband and two sons. Together, they left Bethlehem to live in Moab. Her husband died there. Both sons married women from Moab. Later, both sons died. Ruth had married Naomi’s oldest son and insisted on remaining with Naomi after her own husband died. Naomi returned to Bethlehem—miserable, broken, and nearly alone.
She would learn that she brought with her God’s answer to the healing of her soul: Ruth. If Ruth had not accompanied her, we would not have the book of Ruth and the wonderful story of a kinsman redeemer. Naomi would never have held and nursed the child that would be an ancestor of Jesus Christ. Nor would she have had it said of her, “He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him” (Ruth 4:15).
Naomi was blessed more through Ruth than she was through her own family. Because of Ruth, Naomi has a special place in history. We, too, can have a special place in history if we allow God to work His eternal purpose in our lives—to redeem our lives.
God never stops working in us and for our good. He is sovereign and He is good. The Word of God gives us a picture of God and the work He is doing on earth. We need to steep our souls in the Word.
No tragedy is welcome, but there is a God-ordained purpose for everything that occurs in our lives. And we can trust Him wherever life leads us. He will get the glory from us, and we will enjoy the blessing of knowing our lives will count for time and for eternity. No dead end here.
Let God lead you beyond what appears to be dead ends.
(Photo courtesy of pixabay.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
LaVerne White has been the director of The Fellowship of Learning School, a Christian school in Harlem, New York, for thirty-three years. She is presently writing a family devotional Bible study book for Christian families.