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marbella3 70F
2483 posts
7/16/2021 3:23 am

Last Read:
7/17/2021 8:10 am

Hard Ground and Tender Mercy

Bible in a Year:
2 Samuel 3–5

Luke 14:25–35
Praise be to the Lord.

Ruth 4:14

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Ruth 4:13–22
When James was just six years old, his older brother David died tragically in an ice-skating accident. It was the day before David’s fourteenth birthday. In the years that followed, James tried his best to console his mother, Margaret, who in her deep grief sometimes reminded herself that her elder would never have to face the challenges of growing up. In James Barrie’s fertile imagination, decades later that same idea would burgeon into inspiration for a much-loved ’s story character who never aged: Peter Pan. Like a flower pushing its way through pavement, good emerged even from the hard ground of unthinkable heartache.

How comforting is the thought that God, in an infinitely more creative way, is able to bring good out of our most difficult circumstances. A beautiful illustration of this occurs in the Old Testament story of Ruth. Naomi lost her two sons, leaving her without means or support. Her widowed -in-law Ruth chose to remain with Naomi to help provide for her and to serve her God (Ruth 1:16). In the end, God’s provision brought them unexpected joy. Ruth remarried and had a , “and they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David” (4:17). He would also be listed among the ancestors of Jesus (Matthew 1:5).

God’s tender mercy reaches beyond our ability to fathom and meets us in surprising places. Keep looking! Perhaps you’ll see it today.

Reflect & Pray
When have you seen God bring unexpected good out of difficult circumstances in your life? How can you share what He’s done with others?

Loving God, I thank You that one day You’ll wipe every tear from my eyes because You’re greater than every heartache or difficulty I’ll ever face.


MrsJoe 76F
17417 posts
7/16/2021 9:24 pm

I need to look harder for the good sometimes, and not focus so much on the losses or difficulties in my life.

Be a prism, spreading God's light and love, not a mirror reflecting the world's hatred.


TxJW002 81M

7/17/2021 8:19 am

Life depends on circumstances and what we can control and make of it.
If a guy rode a camel across the sand dunes 2000 years ago has zero to do with today.
Pray On!