Have you felt you were forgotten? Have you felt as though you were purposely left out? Have you felt abandoned? Did people you thought you could count on turn their back on you? Have you thought that God no longer cared for you?
Feeling abandoned is difficult for us. We may have people close to us turn away and leave us. We may think there is no one who cares. We can get depressed and feel helpless due to these thoughts. Yet, God has not turned his back on us, but will never leave us.
Naomi thought she had been cursed. She thought she had been abandoned by God. She had fled with her husband from a famine. He later died. Her two sons, who were sustaining her, died. She decided to return to Bethlehem in her despair. She encouraged her two daughters-in-law to stay with their families. Ruth refused and traveled with Naomi to Bethlehem.
Naomi would realize later that God had not abandoned her. Instead, God had used her situation, dire as it may have been, to bless her in a magnificent way. She is the grandmother of Obed, who is the grandfather of David, the greatest king of Israel. Naomi is the mother-in-law to Ruth, who gave birth to continue the lineage that would ultimately result in Jesus coming to earth.
No matter how dire our circumstances, God has not abandoned us. He is still at work and will bless us. We are to continue in our faith, trusting God has something greater in mind for us. After all, it is often in the trials of life that we grow the most. So face those trials with
confidence that growth is coming as well as God’s blessing.
I pray we all trust God is always working. I pray we face our trials with confidence, seeking growth. I pray each one of us hold onto our faith during times of trial, believing our faith will be strengthened. Trust God is working. Gain confidence during trials. Seek growth. Hold onto your faith.
Ruth 4:16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her bosom and became his nurse.
Marty Pressey 