Monday, May 10, 2010

When God's Hand Seems Distant (Ruth 1:11b-13)

“Are there still sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn back, my daughters, go—for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, if I should have a husband tonight and should also bear sons, would you wait for them till they were grown? Would you restrain yourselves from having husbands? No, my daughters; for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!”
(Ruth 1:11b-13, NKJV)

Naomi’s grief continued. She lost everything important to her. She knew she was destined to be alone. No husband. No children. No grandchildren.

And she—for a while at least—lost her faith. “… the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” she cried.

Have you ever felt that way? That the hand of the Lord has gone out against you? That you’ve lost everything that had any meaning?

My heart aches for those of you who’ve lost spouses, parents, children. Or maybe you’ve lost your home or have had to travel far to find work. Or maybe you’ve lost your health.

Sometimes we too wonder whether God is really with us when we face overwhelming pain or loss. I know I wondered where God was when I experienced sexual abuse as a child and young teen. When Russ and I first began trying to have children—and month after month went by—I cried out to God, asking “Why?”

And yes, even now on those days when the pain is unrelenting, I sometimes don’t feel God’s presence. But even when I don’t feel Him, I know He’s there, right beside me. I also know that nothing will happen to me—to any of His children—without His arms ready to embrace me.

I spoke this weekend about how rainbows only come after the storm, but we have to go through the storm to see them. Naomi went through her own devastating storm and didn’t know a rainbow was just around the corner.

If you’re in a storm right now, I pray you’ll cling to your Father’s hand. And know the rainbow is coming.

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