"Joseph replied, 'You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good' " (Genesis 50:20, NLT). The story of Joseph is the ultimate story of God turning tragedy to triumph. His brothers meant him harm selling him into slavery. God worked it all for good making him the ruler of a nation. God can bring blessings from the bleakest circumstances.

To be certain, Ruth and Naomi's circumstances were bleak. Naomi left her home in Bethlehem with her husband and two sons due to a famine only to return some years later with no one save one daughter-in-law, Ruth. Naomi and Ruth's situation was dire, but at the point of their greatest need God sent a redeemer, Boaz.

Sound familiar? Our Redeemer is Jesus Christ. At the point of our greatest need, he came to save us by dying on the cross. But he doesn't stop there, he also provides grace in the difficult times, working those circumstances for our good. Read your Bible. God specializes in turning tragedy into triumph, bleakness into blessings. And if he did it for them, he will do it for you, too!

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them" (Romans 8:28, NLT).

Allison Richardson