And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28 NKJV.

…And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband. - Ruth 1:2b-5 NKJV.

So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a close relative; and may his name be famous in Israel!” - Ruth 4:13-14 NKJV. 

The admissions director at the University of California at San Diego made a big mistake when she welcomed by email 29,000 or so applicants who had actually been rejected. The welcome email was only intended to be sent to those students who had actually been accepted by the University. Can you imagine the confusion of the students who received the email congratulating them on their acceptance, and then receiving a second email stating their rejection?

It is often difficult to handle rejection; however, those students turned down by UCSD may find a better path for their lives as a result. About 12 years ago (19 years ago now), I was a bi-vocational pastor searching for that second vocation to be able to survive financially. I had a job interview for employment for a very similar position to the one I had held in the past. I was very hopeful that I would be employed. I fasted and prayed for more than a week about this job and I received confirmation from the Lord that He had heard my prayers. However, I was not hired, but at the same time I was encouraged knowing that this was apparently God’s will for my life. The bi-vocational pastorate turned out to be more full-time than part - time, although I did some substitute teaching which I enjoyed. With 12 years of life experience since the rejection of my job application, I am thankful that I was rejected. I am thankful, because I would not be writing these devotionals if I had been hired for that position. I am also thankful because I know that God protected me from going down the wrong path with my life.

There are more difficult things that can happen to us in life than being rejected by a college, or not getting the job that we wanted. Naomi and Ruth experienced one of those more difficult things, their husbands died. Even though this terrible thing happened in the lives of both women, Naomi was faithful to the Lord, and Ruth followed her mother-in-law’s example. As a result Ruth is in the human genealogy of our Lord Jesus, and she became the great-grandmother of King David. Although God did not cause the tragedies to happen, He surely brought good out of the death of their husbands. He brought good out of it as Naomi and Ruth faithfully followed the will of God for their lives step by step, day by day.

In my own family, my great-grandfather’s (Draper Wrather’s) first wife passed away soon after their only child, a daughter was born (That daughter died when she was 14-years-old from a ruptured appendix.). He then married a woman (Frances Raynes Campbell Wrather) whose first husband had died (Her son by her first husband died when he was 20-years-old from Tuberculosis.). I know that my great-grandmother was a godly woman who had much influence for good upon her family. One of her sons, my grandfather, his first wife (my grandmother) passed away before I was born. He then married a godly woman whose example and prayers are still impacting my life. As I have researched the genealogy of my family, nearly every line has faced family tragedies.

When the bad things happen in our lives we are encouraged to remain faithful. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 the apostle Paul encourages us with these words, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” “In God We Trust” is not just a motto; it is God’s will for our lives in good times, and in bad times. Trusting in God is always the eternally right decision.

Updated 10.12.16