Week 2
Day 1
The Shame of Past Decisions
Read: Ruth 1, Jeremiah 31:3-4
SOAP: Jeremiah 31:3-4
In a faraway land the Lord will manifest himself to them.
He will say to them, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love.
That is why I have continued to be faithful to you.
I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel,
so that you will once again be built up.
Once again you will take up the tambourine
and join in the happy throng of dancers.
Naomi had a past filled with loss. Her past was hard; her husband and her sons died at a young age and she was left alone. Her life, once full, was empty. She returned to her hometown with Ruth, her daughter-in-law and only companion.
Jeremiah’s words remind us that even when we feel far from God, when it feels as if He has abandoned us or allowed harm to befall us, He is still working. He is always loving us, always seeking our hearts in an effort to bring us back to Himself. He is a God who restores, rebuilds, and redeems, no matter our circumstances.
God is always at work, especially in the lives of believers, using events, people, losses, failures, and other hardships for their good. Even though it took her some time to see it, God showered Naomi with His goodness. His grace covered her shame, redeeming her life and giving her more than she could have imagined.
Lord, You are a good God who takes everything I have, both the good and the bad, and uses it for my good and Your glory. I may not understand how You work but help me to trust it is true. Amen.