Christmas With Great Grandma RuthSample

In today's passage, the author gives us a raw look at Naomi's grief and her response to suffering. Naomi attributes the profound loss she has experienced to God. It's a very real, human response to suffering and loss. If we believe that God is "sovereign", or in complete control, but we are enduring intense suffering, it's very easy to assume that He is causing our pain or discomfort. Sometimes, God does cause suffering to lead us to repentance (Ex. relational conflict and drama because we've chosen to gossip or harbor resentment), but often, suffering is simply a result of the broken world we live in. God allows that suffering, but as we'll see throughout the rest of this book, He always plans to redeem it. The presence of suffering does not always indicate the absence of God. On the contrary, suffering nearly always indicates God is moving in some way. He's moving a sinful person toward repentance or, more often, a sad story toward redemption.

Reflection Prompt:

• How does suffering typically impact your view of God or the way you relate to Him?