"Gott schreibt auch auf krummen linen grade".. say what?! hehe this is a German saying which loosely translated means that God can even turn our crooked paths straight. We face trails, difficulties and sometimes we feel there is no hope, it is just dark; we feel forsaken by God. Maybe it is at the hands of natural disaster such as death and famine we suffer (just like Ruth), or maybe it is at the hands of others we suffer abuse (much like Joseph who was sold by his brothers), or perhaps it is by our own doing that we are suffering (much like David's sin with Bathseba, or Peter's denial of Christ). We sit in jails (Joseph), in a foreign country (Ruth), back at our old comfort zones (Peter fishing) and we wander why we are here, we feel failed by God, others and ourselves. We sit in the dark and we have a choice. We can choose like Joseph to keep trusting God in our jail and be faithful in where we are, to keep trusting like Ruth to look to God for protection, to turn to Jesus after we have failed Him; or we can choose to despair and give up hope to be Orpah and go back home, to be Judas and instead of going to Jesus, get depressed and even choose to give in to death.
The choice is not easy, for the darkness is real. But the point of all these stories is that when God looks missing He is actually working in the background. That even though Joseph's brothers were planning to harm him, this turned out for their salvation! WOW! Gen 50: 20 says "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." When Ruth had no hope of a future (widows were seen as the lowest in society), God was busy putting the puzzle pieces in place for Boaz to meet her. Jesus redeems Peter, restores him to be the founder of the church; He appears to Him first after the resurrection.
The biggest example of how God turns our darkest nights into glory stories is the cross.. It seemed all was lost, the Messiah, the promised long-awaited one was dead- crucified, cursed; there was no hope. Yet on the third day He rose again, having defeated death and every spiritual power! The victory is HIS, He has overcome. So do not fear mistakes, dark nights- keep trusting, keep hoping for God is still at work.
May the Lord bless you, may He keep you as you take refuge under the shadow of His wings (Ruth 2:12).
May the Lord shine upon you so that you may continue to hope.
May He be gracious to you so that you can experience for yourself His deep love.
May His face turn to you so that he may make your crooked places straight.
And may He give you peace even as you face your darkest night...
