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Today's reading:  Ruth

The account of Ruth is a great love story.

The account of her mother-in-law, Naomi, is a great story of God's redemptive grace.

You see, Naomi was bitter, broken and where she shouldn't have been.

Sure, she'd been taken there by a husband, who had the nerve to die.  She'd lost her two boys.  She was left with only daughters-in-law.  And while they may have been great gals, they weren't her flesh and blood.

So she did what she believed God was asking her to do--take a hike.

She set off for her homeland, Judah.

It was a long journey.  It was a dangerous journey for women to make alone.  It was a gamble.  A risk.  A roll of the dice as to what they'd do once they got there.

That's where God so often steps in.

Even when we're in a pickle we've placed ourselves into, He can do a work!  When we've found ourselves in a pit we've dug ourselves, He can do a work!  When we're fostering hatred and bitterness we know He doesn't want us to harbor, He can do a work!

It takes us stepping out and heading in the right direction.

Staying in our sin won't allow Him room to work in our hearts.  Keeping bitter emotions inside us and away from His healing touch, even when we 'deserve' to feel the way we do, won't allow Him the room to work in our hearts.  Refusing to move, make a change or get up off our little tail-ends, won't allow Him the room to work in our hearts.

For some of us, it's time we take a hike!