Know this promise, dear heart-

The book of Ruth begins with barrenness. The land is barren as a famine sweeps through, and Naomi, despite having born children, is now a childless widow.

The truth of the matter is that Naomi thought her story was done. She was Marah, Bitter, and the life she dreamed of was shattered around her—the pieces too small, too sharp, too filled with death to ever be recovered.

But it turns out the story wasn’t over yet.

While the pieces of her past WERE too shattered to be recovered—her sons and husband gone—the story wasn’t over because there was more at work than just her sorrow. She may have thought YHWH had abandoned her because of the depth of her loss, but not only was she not alone, God also wasn’t done creating life for her.

We know the story she couldn’t see at the time. We know her daughter-in-law Ruth became her joy and home and family. We know another relative, Boaz, provided food and protection and a future.

We know Ruth bore a son, set him on Naomi’s lap, and it was said that the woman who arrived barren now held a child.

Dearest ones, I know we’ve all tasted our share of sorrow. Some of us have watched hopes and dreams and memories shatter. We’ve felt the bitter realization that there is no way for our tastes of death to be made right.

And that’s true.

While, at the same time, it’s also true that the story isn’t over yet.

As long as you have breath, your story isn’t over. Not yet.

God is still working. He’s redeemer and healer and creator…the One who is creating life even now.