Encouragement for Today

July 18, 2025 Are You Giving God a Chance To Show Up? MEREDITH HOUSTON CARR Lee en español

“I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Ruth 1:21 (NIV)

Recently, I saw a mom struggling with her young, special-needs son and instantly recognized the panic on her face. It took me back to countless times with my autistic son — errands, playdates, and school events that ended in disaster, etching another layer of despair into my soul.

In those early years, I drew dismal conclusions about my son’s future — none of which have come to pass! But based on external evidence, I predecided how I thought his life would go, and it went something like: bad, hard, even harder, awful, maybe tolerable one day.

A bit dramatic, I know. But isn’t that what pain does to us?

Perhaps your relationships, plans, or dreams also aren’t going as you hoped. You thought A, B, or C would happen, and now that it hasn’t, you feel stuck in distress. You may have even convinced yourself that good things have evaded you altogether.

Our enemy, Satan, tempts us to view the future through a false filter of discouragement. I remembered this while reading through the book of Ruth.

Both Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi, had lost their husbands and therefore, in their Ancient Near Eastern culture, their security. Desperate and alone, they clung to one another as they returned to Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem, where she declared:

“I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:21).

Conviction struck me when I read her words. How often have I believed likewise when my circumstances looked bleak? How often have you? We, like Naomi, serve the God of redemption — yet we frequently act as though His redemption is out of reach.

Like Naomi, we mislabel our lives as “empty” or “afflicted” when in reality, at least in some cases, maybe we just haven’t given God the chance to show up and work in our brokenness.

Ultimately, God wrote redemption all over Ruth and Naomi’s stories. He orchestrated Ruth and Boaz’s marriage and blessed them with a son. And Naomi got to hold and love this child, who would also become the grandfather of the future King David, an ancestor of Jesus!

Ruin and misfortune were not all that lay ahead in Naomi’s future — and there is more in your future, too, dear one. Instead of drawing wrong conclusions about God’s actions, let’s wait patiently and give Him plenty of room to work. When doubt tempts us, we can cultivate trust by repeating this truth:

God is a Redeemer who is working out my redemption in His time and His way.

Let’s trust God enough to allow Him to move as only He can!

Dear Lord, open the eyes of my heart to the reality that You are a God of redemption who is working for good in my life. I patiently, expectantly wait on You and give You room to work! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Spoiler alert: God uses regular people to do ridiculously big things. (And yes, that includes you.) This isn’t just another book — it’s a wake-up call for anyone who’s been wondering if their life really counts. Five Mere Christians tells the stories of five believers who showed up with faith in their real, messy, mundane lives — and God showed up too. Ready for the nudge you didn’t know you needed? Get your copy, and read this Circle 31 Book Club pick starting August 1.

ENGAGE

Meredith would love to connect with you! Join her on her website and Instagram for more encouragement and a few laughs.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (NIV).

In what area(s) of your life are you struggling to trust God’s redemptive plan right now? How would your faith change if you began praying for God’s “immeasurably more” to break through in that area?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2025 by Meredith Houston Carr. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org