You just never know...

The story of Naomi, better known as Ruth's mother-in-law in the book of Ruth in the Old Testament relates the pain and anguish one feels when circumstances are going the wrong way. Naomi's husband and two sons had died, leaving her with two daughter-in-laws. Wanting to return back to her homeland, she told her two daughter-in-laws to go back to their families yet one of them, Ruth dutifully stayed with Naomi.

When Naomi returned home, heavy-laden with the anguish of losing both her husband and two sons in her old age, she told the people to call her 'Mara', meaning 'bitter' instead of Naomi, which means 'my delight' as she felt that the Lord's hand has gone out against her, that her life is bitter now. As quoted from "Our Daily Bread", rather than judge her circumstances in light of her identity as a follower of the one true God who had proclaimed unfailing love for His people, Naomi did what most of us tend to do: judged God in light of her circumstances.

However, as the story progresses, we see that God had chosen to bless Naomi in her old age with a filial daughter-in-law and a righteous and kind relative who provided for her and she ended up having a grandchild in the lineage of the Messiah. What Naomi saw as the worst possible situation in her life turned out to be the best that God has to give her.

We need to realise that God's way is not our way and that many times, bad situations may turn out for the better because God's plans are definitely better than ours. May this be our prayer always: Loving Father, help me not to judge Your love for me on the basis of whether today brings good news or bad. Help me to remember that You desire to use my circumstances to make me more like Jesus. Amen.