Last week our online morning Bible Study group began going through the devotional, Women of Courage – a Forty-Day Devotional from the {in{Courage Community. The past year has been one of challenges which required us all to be brave, to exhibit courage. The hope is that as we read these stories, applying them to our lives, we too, will become women, people, of courage!

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We began with reading Ruth 4:13-17 -  the story of Ruth and Naomi. It is a beautiful story of redemption and restoration. Of life and promises.

From their line came our Savior – Who steps into our lives and stories as well. He is the One who brings change and hope into our hopeless situation.

Are you like Naomi, bitter about your life? Do you tend to think that this is how it will always be? What do these Scriptures speak to your heart?

“Naomi was bitter against God, but Ruth was willing for God to have His way in her life, so God began His gracious work with Ruth. Ruth would influence Naomi, and then God would bring to pass a wonderful work that would eventually bring the Son of God into the world. Ruth and Naomi had no idea that they were part of an eternal plan that would fulfill God’s promise to Abraham for his seed to bring blessing to the whole world.

(Wiersbe Study Bible, page 376)

Naomi’s story began with loss and ended with the gain of family and a grandson. It began with tears and ended with joy. Let God, Ruth, and Naomi encourage your heart that your story is not over. This is not how things will always be.

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Midweek found us reading about the Samaritan woman in John 4:7-26.

Here she is in the heat of the day, going to draw water to keep away from being pointed out and talked about by the other women.

Drawing water – a mundane chore. Sometimes the mundane is right where Jesus meets us and changes us.

While she was able to hide from the other townspeople, she was not able to hide from Jesus. He saw her, saw through her, knew everything about her and He loved her anyway.

Have you been avoiding your own brokenness? Do you realize we do not need to ever hide from Jesus?

What in this familiar story spoke to your heart today? Interesting to me was how Jesus is able to see behind every and any mask we may put on in front of others.

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In Matthew 15:21-28, we find another woman without a name.

This woman with her great need had little regard for what anyone thought of her as she came crying to Jesus. She only knew who He was and what He could do. The reports of miracles and healings had spread far and wide.

And she had a need and she believed only He could take care of it. It all comes down to that, doesn’t it?

Do we believe? Do we believe He is big enough to handle every burden – big or small?

The devotional asks these questions: Are you carrying a burden, grief, or worry for a loved one today that you are anxious to bring to the Lord? Are you nervous that He might not hear you, or will turn you away? Do you think your request is too small to bother Him about?

As I read and reread the portion, I realized Jesus was not trying to put this woman off. He was not trying to ignore her. He was not trying to insult her. He was not trying to make her situation more painful than it already was.

He was trying to further grow her in her faith.

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (verse 28, NASB)

Even in our greatest time of need, He wants us to come to Him, to cry out to Him – persistently. He wants to grow us in our faith. Each time He responds to our prayers, our faith grows. Sometimes in little baby steps, sometimes in huge leaps. But His desire is for our faith to be great.

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Today is not how it will always be,
Jesus sees behind our masks and troubles,
and desires for our faith to be great.

Photo 1: by TOMOKO UJI on Unsplash
Photo 2: by Vera Davidova on Unsplash
Photo 3: by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash

Today I am joining … Tell His Story and InstaEncouragements .