Bible Reading: Ruth 1-4; Luke 11:29-54.
Memory Verse: “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.” Ruth 4:15 (KJV)
The world is full of challenges and becoming a Christian does not exonerate you from having your own share of it. However, God has promised his children that “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Isaiah 43:2 (KJV). This is why as children of God you are expected to have enduring patience in this world. This is referred to as long-suffering as part of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 (KJV).
What are you going through right now for which you have fasted and prayed but nothing seems to have changed for the better? The Lord is with you as long as you are also steadfast in your walk with Him. No matter how difficult the situation is, just remain faithful to your creator and He will show up for you.
Sometimes such challenges come after you have sinned. In such a case, just ensure you have true repentance and ask for God’s mercy, He will forgive you. He says in Proverbs 28:13 (KJV), “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” On the other hand, you may be living right and still face the challenge like Job (Job 1:1 ).
Whichever case, God will show up for you in the midst of that adversity and will provide a way out as He did in the case of Naomi, the mother in-law of Ruth. Who would have thought that Naomi will laugh again after losing her husband and all her children in a foreign land? But God’s ways are not our ways. He has a way of bringing the best out of every adverse situation as long as you continue your dependence on Him. Thus, in the case of Naomi, God restored her and made her laugh last as He gave her a grandchild that has kept her name in history for several thousands of years even after her death. The Bible reports this in Ruth 4:15 (KJV), “And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.”
What challenges are you going through now? Keep your faith in God and He will cause you to laugh last!
Action Point: Thank God for your present situation knowing that in all things, God enjoins you to give thanks.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero