redeem

“So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Hold on, friend. Your redemption is coming.

Have you ever taken on the identity of a testing season? One where your situation leads you to feel beaten down and unlike yourself? One where you are wrapped from head to toe in the depression, the loss, or the grief?

While the things we go through are real and hard and sometimes feel as though they will never end, our Father urges us to stay true to remember the promises He has made.

In the book of Ruth, we are told a story of loss and redemption. One where Naomi feels so encapsulated by loss and grief, that she asks the people of Bethlehem to call her by a new name. She says, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me” (1:20).

She feels lost and broken, and does not see where things could turn around. And in the midst of it all, the Lord is working all things together for her good. He takes the broken pieces of her heart, and places them back together through the (later) fruition her daughter in law Ruth, experiences.

Neither one of these women realize what God is doing behind the scenes. But through it all, they stuck together and trusted in what He had for them in Bethlehem — the place where one day, the Son of God would be born.

The story goes on, and at the end of it all — at the end of the most testing season of Naomi’s life — Ruth has a child and Naomi sees the redemptive power of God. The women say to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel!” (4:14)

How beautiful to see it all come together this way? To see that Naomi, just like any of us going through a season where our faith is tested, experienced the redemptive power of our Savior? The Lord is saying to you today, “your redemption is coming, too”.

Hold on to hope, friend.

Madison King

additional reading:

Psalm 132:15 / Exodus 4:31 / Jeremiah 29:10 / 1 Samuel 2:21 / Genesis 21:1

reflect:

Reflect on a time where you held on to the promises of God, and you watched Him come through in the end. Write it down, keep it close, remember.

centering prayer:

LORD, in a time where I feel all is lost, help me to hold fast to the hope you have spoken over my life. Remind me that you have something planned that is far greater than I could ever imagine. Amen.