Are you utterly broken? Do you feel like there is no one to run to and all is seemingly askew? I haven’t been there before but I know someone who has. She had everything she could possibly ask for: a good husband, great in-laws, life in a five year plan. She was flourishing in her business as a designer and C.E.O of an urban clothing line ranging from ages 0- Adult. Things were good. Then one day she comes home from work to meet her mother-in-law in the arms of her husband, who was comforting her. His dad just passed away. For months the elderly man had been complaining of a burning chest pain and was treated for infection. He went into a cardiac arrest in the early hours of the morning and didn’t wake up.
After the funeral, mother-in-law, ‘Nana’ as she is fondly called by her sons, came to live with Ruth. At first, she felt bitter at not having Mark all to herself and she began to act grumpy. But what stunned her was Nana’s response- love. It was all she could do not to cry at the wonderful mother’s heartfelt tenderness towards her. Why, she even treated her like her own daughter! And there was more- Nana emanated peace and joy beyond comprehension. Ruth would look forward to getting home so she and Nana could prepare dinner while she learnt about the middle-aged woman’s past- her home, her people, the economic meltdown affecting her country, and her God. He was the person Ruth longed to meet. Nana described him as a loving gentle tenderhearted Father who would stop at nothing to see his children saved. But what did Ruth need to be saved from? Ruth had all she wanted and church wasn’t her thing. She just didn’t grow up with it. Her parents believed in satisfying one’s self and looking for inner happiness. Christmas was a happy holiday for them because their Father got to take them to the best kiddies centre.
Years passed on and Ruth couldn’t deny the feeling that something was missing. She couldn’t put a finger on it yet her soul was desperately seeking for more. It wasn’t the fact that she had no children for Mark. In their time, they would come. Her heart was growing weary within her daily. Then the worst happened: Mark and his only brother, Keith died in a car crash on their way back from a business meeting out of town. Eleven years of marriage and she was left a widow.
Are you familiar with this story?
I have a word for you- God has not left you alone. When all seems utterly hopeless and life is death to you, the Father is able to raise you up from the miry clay. Because you see years after, He set Ruth and Nana’s feet on the solid rock- not because she remarried and had a son after a lot of other stuff happened to her but that she followed the One true God even in her state of pain. She learnt that though she had lost everything, the joy that would come when she walked with God was unspeakable. It filled her soul, healed her wounded heart, and filled the emptiness she had for so long! It was more than the things she could see- a home, a husband, children, good job, friends, etc. she allowed God’s grace to save her. She chose life, she chose Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She heard God calling her, telling her he would give her rest, lighten her burden, ease her yoke, and teach her how to live. She obeyed the call.
There is not a situation God cannot save you from, if He has the power to raise dry bones to life (Ezek.37:1-14), He has the power to save you. And he calls, ‘come to me’. Will you?
No comments:
Post a Comment