Deeper Blog

Glimmers of hope

Slivers of sunlight in a darkened room, catching a branch as you fall. A gulp of air during suffocation. A position of comfort in excruciating pain. The sound of friendship when you only hear hate. A truth in amongst lies. A solid foothold in the mud

or

The granting of our wishes as we blow out the birthday candles, the eternal father christmas responding YES to my list. The restoring of things to how they were. Comfort being normality.

Glimmers of who's hope?

I can see clearly that without any swallowing whales, talking donkeys, burning bushes or loud booming voices God is still present, working in the very normal and tragic events of Naomi's life. He set about breaking the famine to show the way home for Naomi, he prompts Ruth to stay with Naomi and he does even more in the other chapters but I won't spoil Steve, Matt or Sam's fun.

But it seems that Naomi is oblivious to these times when God is present. I wonder whether looking back she can see it? I wonder if you'd have pointed them out to her, would she have been thankful? Because if I try, with a lot of imagination, to put myself into the horrific hurt and pain that Naomi experienced, would she really be happy with someone saying “No look Naomi, God hasn't abandoned you, he's brought about an end to the famine so you can go home, and what's more he's nudged Ruth, your daughter in-law to stay with you forever! I mean yeah I know Moabites are despised in your home town but least it's some company. Chin up Nay (that's what I imagine her name was to her friends) God's working things out.”

When I experience pain the only thing I hope for is it to go away! In hindsight I can look back and see how the rough times have shaped me and on some occasions even be thankful for them but while it's happening, I'll be honest, almost always I want out.

Naomi sends her daughter-in-laws away saying there is no hope for them with her! She doesn't see God at work, she's not holding out for a happy ending she's reached the point of resignation, no hoping for things to get better, no praying for transformation in the pain just “go away daughter-in-laws, there's nothing for you here with me”. Yet God shows remarkable grace to Naomi and provides her with the most unlikeliest heroine.

Naomi's not the heroine of this story she's just a normal, hurting person who doesn't see God at work in her suffering yet still God showers grace on her and transforms her life using the selfless love of another.

And God does the same with me, despite wanting out, despite my running from tough times and despite only wanting Gods involvement if He resolves things the way I want. God still works and doesn't give up. Grace shows up.

“Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exists, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colours” The Shack. William.P.Young

P.S I haven't forgotten the recipe but in the interest of not wanting you to see pages and pages of writing please see “My new third favourite soup” entry at www.thewaspes.com