“When Life Turns Bitter”        Ruth 1:19-21

“When friends betray us And when darkness seems to win, we know

The pain reminds this heart, That this is not, this is not our home.

It's not our home 'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?

What if Your healing comes through tears?

And what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?

What if my greatest disappointments Or the aching of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst This world can't satisfy?

And what if trials of this life The rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise?” - Lyrics, Blessings by Laura Story

Some of the lyrics to this truly inspiration song written in 2011 after Laura’s husband, Martin Ellington, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2006, just two years into their marriage. The lyrics reflects her pain, her brokenness and the redefining of true lasting blessings by the grace of God.

I have journeyed through the book of Ruth and into the first book of Samuel in my daily readings through the Bible, but must pause here for a minute in Ruth.  There are several great truths and applications that can be gleaned from Ruth, but the one I want to focus on is “When Life Turns Bitter.”  Not ‘if’ , but “when.”  We have all or will experience some kind of heartache at some point in our life.  Have you heard the phrase “Life is bittersweet?’  Yes, life is a precious gift of God but it comes with joy, sorrow, beauty and pain.  Most often it is the bitter moments of life when we grow the deepest in our faith. Not just any faith, but faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ and His word.  In the book of Ruth we read the account of one woman’s faith being tested - Naomi.  Her husband died and her two sons died ten years later, leaving her with no hope of provision.  Naomi focused on her circumstances instead of her faith and cried out, “the almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.  I went out full, and the LORD has brought be home again empty” (Ruth 1:21).  Have you felt that way before? - I have.

We get to read the rest of Naomi’s story, it turned out that her God was Jehovah Jireh - “the Lord will provide” or “the Lord My Provider!”  We read about Laura Story’s story - it turns out her God is Jehovah Jireh too!  We read all the accounts of the men and women who wholly trusted in God - He came through - Jehovah Jireh is His name - “The Lord My Provider!”  Yes, life is bittersweet.  When life turns bitter, press closer to Jesus, He will see you through and bless you in unimaginable ways!  Because He is Jehovah Jireh!

Pastor Rodney