Hope for the Holidays: Reclaim the Joy of Jesus This ChristmasPrøve

# Hope for Grief Did you know that one of Jesus’s ancestors was a young woman whom God rescued out of a seemingly hopeless situation? She had lost her husband, had no children, and left her homeland to go with her mother-in-law to a place when she could have been rejected by everyone. Her name was Ruth, and she was a Moabite—a group of people whom the Israelites hated. But as soon as Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem, God began to orchestrate circumstances in their lives that would bring restoration and new life. Through a series of events, God provided a new husband for Ruth—Boaz, a very wealthy man of noble character. The first time he met Ruth, he became her protector. Then he married Ruth, taking her and Naomi into his family. Boaz provided Naomi with grandchildren and restored her deceased husband’s name and land. Naomi went from being bitter (Ruth 1:20) to blessed (Ruth 4:14). Where there had been death and grief, God provided resurrection and joy. Boaz and Ruth became the great-grandparents of King David and are eventually mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus. The circumstances of Naomi and Ruth, which started in dispair, would end up setting the stage for another new beginning centuries later in Bethlehem, bringing restoration to the whole world! In the same way, the baby born in a manger gave His life for us so we could have new life. Let the joy of knowing Jesus become a life-giving reality in your heart, and watch His redemption unfold in your own circumstances as you trust Him. Let Him heal your heart by keeping your eyes and thoughts on Him and His love for you. Action Step: Take time away from the busyness of the Christmas season, get alone with God, and meditate on His immeasurable love for you. Let the light of Jesus’s love fill your heart with hope and peace, knowing He came to save us from the devastation of this world.