Colliding With Destiny

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FINDING HOPE

IN THEIN THE

LEGACY OF RUTH

S

ARAH

J

AKES

5

Sarah Jakes, Colliding with Destiny Sarah Jakes, Colliding with Destiny

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The 2014 edition is expanded from the 2013 edition The 2014 edition is expanded from the 2013 edition Published by Bethany House Publishers

Published by Bethany House Publishers 11400 Hampshire Avenue South

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Bloomington, , Minnesota 55438Minnesota 55438 www.bethanyhouse.com

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Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in the United States of America

Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording— or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording— without the prior written permission of

without the prior written permission of the publisherthe publisher. The only exception is brief . The only exception is brief quotations inquotations in printed reviews.

printed reviews.

Library of

Library of Congress CataloginCongress Cataloging-in-Publg-in-Publication Dataication Data Jak

Jakes, Sarah.es, Sarah.

Colliding with destiny : ﬁnding hope in the legacy of Ruth / Sarah Jakes. Colliding with destiny : ﬁnding hope in the legacy of Ruth / Sarah Jakes.

pages pages cmcm

Summary: “Sarah Jakes uses the biblical book of Ruth to show women how the most Summary: “Sarah Jakes uses the biblical book of Ruth to show women how the most painful times in life can be the most pivotal, propelling them into a destiny they’d never painful times in life can be the most pivotal, propelling them into a destiny they’d never imagined”— Provided by publisher.

imagined”— Provided by publisher.

ISBN 978-0-7642-1211-6 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-7642-1211-6 (cloth : alk. paper)

ISBN 978-0-7642-1289-5 (international trade paper : alk. paper) ISBN 978-0-7642-1289-5 (international trade paper : alk. paper) 1. Bible. Ruth—Devotional literature. I. Title.

1. Bible. Ruth—Devotional literature. I. Title. BS1315.54.J35 2014

BS1315.54.J35 2014 222

222 .3506—dc23 .3506—dc23 20140174262014017426 Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

by permission.

Scripture quotations identiﬁed  are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Scripture quotations identiﬁed  are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permissioyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publish-n of Tyndale House Publish-ers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights

ers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reservreserved.ed. Cover design by LOOK Design Studio

Cover design by LOOK Design Studio

Author is represented by Dupree/Miller & Associates Author is represented by Dupree/Miller & Associates

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Because I needed

Because I needed to believe I wasn’t alone,

to believe I wasn’t alone,

I found a woman who went ahead of us a

and showed

and showed at grace survives

at grace survives

our most broken

our most broken moments.

moments.

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Introduction

N

oow that w that we’rwe’re adults, e adults, my brother and my brother and I havI have created thie created this news new tradition. Whenever we stay at my parents’ home, we take tradition. Whenever we stay at my parents’ home, we take the opportunity to spend some quality time together. He loves the opportunity to spend some quality time together. He loves being an un

being an uncle to my kids, and I lovcle to my kids, and I love for them to get to ke for them to get to know now him.him. So after the kids have finished their homework, had supper, and So after the kids have finished their homework, had supper, and taken their baths, we all settle in to relax together. Whether it’s taken their baths, we all settle in to relax together. Whether it’s watching something on television, spending time talking about watching something on television, spending time talking about each other’s day, dancing around to music, or play fighting, we each other’s day, dancing around to music, or play fighting, we always have fun.

always have fun.

Sometimes we even turn our hanging out into a team sport! Sometimes we even turn our hanging out into a team sport! Yes, the girls versus the boys, sibling teams versus sibling teams, Yes, the girls versus the boys, sibling teams versus sibling teams, or school versus school. Everything except for the play fights— or school versus school. Everything except for the play fights— that comes down to Malachi, my son, and Dexter, my brother. that comes down to Malachi, my son, and Dexter, my brother. I just commentate or instigate, proving an important role in the I just commentate or instigate, proving an important role in the morale of the fight.

morale of the ﬁght.

One evening recently

One evening recently, we wer, we were tre trying to ying to teach Malachi the teach Malachi the artart of

of boxing. Deboxing. Dexter and I would emulate the proper stance, bounce,xter and I would emulate the proper stance, bounce, and posture. But we also stressed the most important factors: and posture. But we also stressed the most important factors:

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10 10

Introduction Introduction

heart and attitude. Turning the family room into a makeshift heart and attitude. Turning the family room into a makeshift boxing ring, we all burst into laughter as my six-foot-four little boxing ring, we all burst into laughter as my six-foot-four little brother and five-foot-three son playfully squared off. Imitating brother and five-foot-three son playfully squared off. Imitating Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali, they both turned it all Floyd Mayweather and Muhammad Ali, they both turned it all the way on!

the way on!

After they engaged in this lighthearted contest, I again tried After they engaged in this lighthearted contest, I again tried to show Malachi a bo

to show Malachi a boxer’s stanxer’s stance. At ten years olce. At ten years old, he had d, he had nevneverer seen an actual ﬁght, so he had no clue what to do.

seen an actual ﬁght, so he had no clue what to do.

“Watch this,” I said and gave my best Laila Ali impression. “Watch this,” I said and gave my best Laila Ali impression. Boun

Bounce, bouce, bounce. Bnce. Bobob, wea, weave. Uppeve. Uppercut. Jabrcut. Jab, j, jabab. B. Bouncounce. We. Weave.eave. My son, timid in nature, looked up at me with wide eyes.

My son, timid in nature, looked up at me with wide eyes. “But, Mom, I can’t even reach his face!” he exclaimed. “But, Mom, I can’t even reach his face!” he exclaimed.

I looked at him and smiled. But before I opened my mouth to I looked at him and smiled. But before I opened my mouth to reply, I heard, “I CAN REACH HIS FACE, MAMA!”

reply, I heard, “I CAN REACH HIS FACE, MAMA!” I looked down at my three-year-old, three-foot-high d

I looked down at my three-year-old, three-foot-high daughter,aughter, Makenzie. In perfect Laila Ali stance, d

Makenzie. In perfect Laila Ali stance, doown to the rhythm of wn to the rhythm of herher bounce, Makenzie was prepared to take on Dex. She had been bounce, Makenzie was prepared to take on Dex. She had been watching us the whole time. Never recognizing their diﬀerences watching us the whole time. Never recognizing their diﬀerences in size, she was ready to face the challenge.

in size, she was ready to face the challenge.

Makenzie had no concept of how much smaller she was in Makenzie had no concept of how much smaller she was in comparison to her compe

comparison to her competition. All she knew was that she had thetition. All she knew was that she had the heart to ﬁg

heart to ﬁght the battle. It didn’t occur to her ht the battle. It didn’t occur to her to be intimidatedto be intimidated by someone bigger.

by someone bigger. What if

What if wwe dared to beliee dared to believve with the heart of e with the heart of a child?a child?

Somewhere along the path of life, we start to size up the Somewhere along the path of life, we start to size up the com-petition. We start to look at how big the challenge before us is petition. We start to look at how big the challenge before us is and get discouraged. Little by little, the punc

and get discouraged. Little by little, the punches of hes of life begin tolife begin to bruise our hop

bruise our hope. We. We stop ﬁghtie stop ﬁghting as hard as we once did becauseng as hard as we once did because we don’t believe we can win anymore. We don’t block very well we don’t believe we can win anymore. We don’t block very well becaus

because we’re we’re expectine expecting the knockout that wig the knockout that will end it all. Wll end it all. We stope stop living, out of fear.

living, out of fear. F

Fear is the ear is the most shameful ghost of most shameful ghost of them all. Painful memoriesthem all. Painful memories of

of past ﬁghts convince us that some things are not wpast ﬁghts convince us that some things are not worth the riskorth the risk

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of ﬁghting at all. We allow our past to dictate our every move. of ﬁghting at all. We allow our past to dictate our every move. We stand in place and wait for life to hit us again.

We stand in place and wait for life to hit us again. Cer

Certainly we’re taught to alwatainly we’re taught to always keep the faith. Buys keep the faith. But wt when life’hen life’ss blows rock us to our core, it’s hard to remember that our pain blows rock us to our core, it’s hard to remember that our pain has a purpose. When the aches of what happened, what should has a purpose. When the aches of what happened, what should have happened, and what could have happened haunt our every have happened, and what could have happened haunt our every decision, keeping the faith can be a challenge.

decision, keeping the faith can be a challenge.

If disappointments have kept you from being your true self, If disappointments have kept you from being your true self, then this book is for you. My friend, please allow me to share then this book is for you. My friend, please allow me to share with you the story of Ruth—

with you the story of Ruth— all of all of her sher storytory, not just the happy, not just the happy ending. We often hear of Ruth having her Boaz, but we rarely ending. We often hear of Ruth having her Boaz, but we rarely discuss the collisions she faced on the road to her destiny. While discuss the collisions she faced on the road to her destiny. While it’s imperative that we remember her legacy, we can only give it it’s imperative that we remember her legacy, we can only give it value if we see the price she paid for it.

value if we see the price she paid for it. Could it

Could it be that be that if if yyou dare to ou dare to livlive again, e again, yyour storour story doesn’t havy doesn’t havee to be a

to be associated ssociated with what broke ywith what broke you? That by doinou? That by doing whatevg whatever iter it takes to survive, y

takes to survive, you will sou will soow seeds of w seeds of redemption iredemption into your future?nto your future? Ruth’s story begins with her being an outcast. Shunned in her Ruth’s story begins with her being an outcast. Shunned in her homeland of Moab because she left the re

homeland of Moab because she left the religion of ligion of the land andthe land and embraced her husba

embraced her husband’s beliefs, Rnd’s beliefs, Ruth remained commituth remained committed to herted to her new husband and new God. And then again, when she returned new husband and new God. And then again, when she returned to her mother-in-law’s hometown, Bethlehem, she was shunned to her mother-in-law’s hometown, Bethlehem, she was shunned for being a foreigner from a pagan land. She carried the burdens for being a foreigner from a pagan land. She carried the burdens of both who she was and who she used to be.

of both who she was and who she used to be. When R

When Ruth worshiped with her husband’s uth worshiped with her husband’s family in her family in her home- home-town, there was a religious diﬀerentiation that caused her to be town, there was a religious diﬀerentiation that caused her to be an outcast. She no longer bowed to their idols or prayed to their an outcast. She no longer bowed to their idols or prayed to their false gods. In Bethlehem, she was talked about because of her false gods. In Bethlehem, she was talked about because of her myster

mysteryy. It . It was wwas what peophat people didn’t le didn’t knoknow about hw about her that er that intriguedintrigued them the most. She seemed like them, but on the inside she was them the most. She seemed like them, but on the inside she was not the same.

not the same.

Ruth knew that sometimes it’s our silent heartaches, the ones Ruth knew that sometimes it’s our silent heartaches, the ones that bring t

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12 12

that often separate us from others. But she also knew the that often separate us from others. But she also knew the faith-fulness of her Lord, the ways He transformed her pain into His fulness of her Lord, the ways He transformed her pain into His perfection. The trials t

perfection. The trials that Rhat Ruth endured on the uth endured on the wway to her collisiay to her collisionon with destiny oﬀer hope to each of us. Whether what has broken with destiny oﬀer hope to each of us. Whether what has broken yyou can be sou can be seen by the world or is a sileen by the world or is a silent burden yent burden you whisper inou whisper in yyour pillowour pillowcase at ncase at night, God ight, God can still use can still use yyour struggour struggle to ple to propelropel you to your destiny!

you to your destiny!

Ruth’s story has inspired me to share this book with you to Ruth’s story has inspired me to share this book with you to help aid you on your journey of colliding with divine destiny. help aid you on your journey of colliding with divine destiny. It is my prayer that it will release clues from God that lead you It is my prayer that it will release clues from God that lead you back to Him like never before. It is my hope that your spirit will back to Him like never before. It is my hope that your spirit will be refreshed, uplifted, and upheld as you move forward to the be refreshed, uplifted, and upheld as you move forward to the treasure that awaits you.

treasure that awaits you.

While studying the book of

While studying the book of RRuth, I was uth, I was reminded that God canreminded that God can restore life’s most damaging collisions. In my time with Ruth, I restore life’s most damaging collisions. In my time with Ruth, I learne

learned that survival is d that survival is so much more than a perky smile and doz-so much more than a perky smile and doz-ens of

ens of friends. It’s more than pretending tfriends. It’s more than pretending to hao have ve it all together onit all together on the outside. Survival just means you do what you can with what the outside. Survival just means you do what you can with what you have left. And trust that God will do the rest.

you have left. And trust that God will do the rest. Whether your heart

Whether your heart has been has been broken because lovbroken because love had a e had a devdevas- as-tating endi

tating ending for yng for you or your body has beou or your body has been raen ravaged by a painfulvaged by a painful disease, this book is for you. Or maybe you have a past you feel disease, this book is for you. Or maybe you have a past you feel you can’t escape. Maybe you’re trying to reinvent yourself after you can’t escape. Maybe you’re trying to reinvent yourself after life has dealt you its hardest blow. Maybe each day is an life has dealt you its hardest blow. Maybe each day is an excruci-ating battle with depression. Maybe you’re surrounded by other ating battle with depression. Maybe you’re surrounded by other people w

people while suﬀering the inner loneliness of hile suﬀering the inner loneliness of not belonging. Nonot belonging. No matter what it is, you

matter what it is, you willwill hav have somethie something in ng in common witcommon with Rh Ruth.uth. Imagine yourself

Imagine yourself being free. Brightbeing free. Bright-eyed, three-y-eyed, three-year-old Makear-old Makenzie/enzie/ Laila Ali free. Imagine looking at the size of

Laila Ali free. Imagine looking at the size of life’s battles withoutlife’s battles without fear. What if you trust me and begin to believe that the barrier fear. What if you trust me and begin to believe that the barrier that blocked y

that blocked you from your destiny can be the ou from your destiny can be the platform God useplatform God usess to propel you into your destiny? No longer will you be ruled by to propel you into your destiny? No longer will you be ruled by an imperfect past, diﬃcult present, or grim future.

an imperfect past, diﬃcult present, or grim future.

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Think you’ll ha

Think you’ll havve to be supe to be superwoman to do it? Speerwoman to do it? Spend thound thousandssands of

of dollars and dozens of dollars and dozens of yyears to get there? Learn eight languagesears to get there? Learn eight languages to under

to understand stand it? Yit? You’re wrong!ou’re wrong!

I can show you one woman who faced many trials. Some I can show you one woman who faced many trials. Some be-cause of the decisions she made and others bebe-cause she was a cause of the decisions she made and others because she was a victim of

victim of the choices of the choices of others. Still, she found a waothers. Still, she found a way to continuey to continue on her journey.

on her journey. Surviv

Survival can be a al can be a tricky road. It can tricky road. It can be diﬃcult to be diﬃcult to remember wremember whyhy we must press forward. Life can numb us so much we no longer we must press forward. Life can numb us so much we no longer want to remember who we are. If you’re reading this book, it’s want to remember who we are. If you’re reading this book, it’s beca

because you want to remembeuse you want to rememberr. Y. You want to trou want to try to sury to survive agaivive again.n. You want to believe that there is life after the memories . . . You want to believe that there is life after the memories . . . the pain

the pain . . . the rumors . the rumors . . . and the lies. Y. and the lies. You want ou want to get throughto get through today trust

today trusting thing that tomat tomorrow will be betorrow will be betterter. Y. You don’t ou don’t know hoknow howw yyou’ll keep going, ou’ll keep going, only that you can’t stop nowonly that you can’t stop now. If . If these ring these ring true,true, then you ar

then you are on the same joure on the same journey of ney of survival that became the redsurvival that became the red carpet for Ruth’s coming-out party.

carpet for Ruth’s coming-out party. Can you feel it? God

Can you feel it? God is already begiis already beginning to nning to restore yrestore you. Withou. With His help, please allow me to guide you through the story

His help, please allow me to guide you through the story of of RRuthuth so that you, too, can experience your collision with destiny.

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15 15

1

Life Doesn’t Always

Go A

Go As Planne

s Planne

d

Just because

Just because you make a you make a change change for the for the betterbetter doesn’t mean you escape trouble. It only means doesn’t mean you escape trouble. It only means your

your trouble trouble has a prohas a promise.mise.

I

n the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine inn the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek

of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

they went to Moab and lived there.

Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died,

ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi wasand Naomi was left without her two sons and her

left without her two sons and her husband.husband.

Ruth 1:1–5 Ruth 1:1–5

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W

e make idols out of so many things in our lives. Whethere make idols out of so many things in our lives. Whether w

we’re just ge’re just getting by or etting by or ﬁnally getting ﬁnally getting ahead, we discoahead, we discover thatver that cars, clothes, ca

cars, clothes, careers, relationships, reers, relationships, and money and money all havall have a wae a way ofy of cloudi

clouding our ving our visionsion, pulli, pulling our focung our focus as awaway from God. Eventuy from God. Eventuallyally,, we learn that

we learn that we cannot serve two masters. Wwe cannot serve two masters. We must choose ae must choose andnd prioritiz

prioritize what’s most impore what’s most important to utant to us. Ws. We have have to draw the linee to draw the line between enjoying things and worshiping things.

between enjoying things and worshiping things.

In fact, it’s usually not until we encounter trouble that we In fact, it’s usually not until we encounter trouble that we re-assess what we consider valuable and learn that things are just assess what we consider valuable and learn that things are just that—things. Whether it’s divorce, loss of income, death of a that—things. Whether it’s divorce, loss of income, death of a loved one, or some other life-changing moment, we finally find loved one, or some other life-changing moment, we finally find ourselves at a crossroads. What do we do when life doesn’t go ourselves at a crossroads. What do we do when life doesn’t go as planned? Will we become bitter? Or will we seek God in the as planned? Will we become bitter? Or will we seek God in the midst of our loss and become better?

midst of our loss and become better?

Ruth, a Moabite woman, grew up practicing the religion of Ruth, a Moabite woman, grew up practicing the religion of her land. Although she was raised to worship many gods, there her land. Although she was raised to worship many gods, there was only One who could prepare her for her destiny. When Ruth was only One who could prepare her for her destiny. When Ruth married Mahlon

married Mahlon, she didn’t marry , she didn’t marry just him. She married his just him. She married his God.God. Finding fulﬁllment in her marriage and her new faith, Ruth Finding fulﬁllment in her marriage and her new faith, Ruth ap-peared to be living her dream.

peared to be living her dream. W

We aren’t told e aren’t told hohow much they w much they enjoyed each otherenjoyed each other, but i, but it seemst seems clear from her grief that Ruth experienced an abiding love with clear from her grief that Ruth experienced an abiding love with

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18 18

COLLIDING WITH DESTINY COLLIDING WITH DESTINY

her husband. She may have recognized her good fortune, or she her husband. She may have recognized her good fortune, or she might

might hahave takve taken it en it for granted. for granted. RRegardless, egardless, she enjoyed ten yearsshe enjoyed ten years of

of living her dream—unliving her dream—until her dream became her nightmare.til her dream became her nightmare. Ruth had to have felt like her world had shattered into Ruth had to have felt like her world had shattered into thou-sands of

sands of irretrievairretrievable pieces. How could this ble pieces. How could this hahave happened? Thisve happened? This was not what she had expected! And it wasn’t just her life that was not what she had expected! And it wasn’t just her life that seemed to be crumbling to dust. Her father-in-law had already seemed to be crumbling to dust. Her father-in-law had already died, le

died, leaaving behiving behind his nd his wife, Naomiwife, Naomi, R, Ruth’s belovuth’s beloved mother-in-ed mother-in-law. Mahlon’s brother also died. Now their family had no men law. Mahlon’s brother also died. Now their family had no men to protect and provide for them. Ruth obviously had some hard to protect and provide for them. Ruth obviously had some hard choices before her.

choices before her.

What do you do when life does

What do you do when life doesn’t go as pln’t go as planned? anned? YYou’ve ﬁnallyou’ve ﬁnally sown all the right seeds, yet all you reap in return is heartache. sown all the right seeds, yet all you reap in return is heartache. We hardly ever question God when things go as we want them We hardly ever question God when things go as we want them to. But when we face trouble, we want answ

to. But when we face trouble, we want answers. Where is ers. Where is God inGod in the midst of

the midst of our life’s most painful disappour life’s most painful disappointment?ointment? Many ti

Many times we feel so mes we feel so stunned by stunned by the blows wthe blows we receive that wee receive that we feel abandon

feel abandoned by God. How could He led by God. How could He loove us as His children yetve us as His children yet allo

allow these thw these things to happings to happen? Couldn’t He en? Couldn’t He hahave done somethingve done something to prevent us from experiencing the bitter pain of our loss? Why to prevent us from experiencing the bitter pain of our loss? Why would He allow this?

would He allow this?

It’s so easy to see Him when things are going our way. But are It’s so easy to see Him when things are going our way. But are yyou williou willing to do ng to do the work it takthe work it takes to dies to discoscover Him in the miver Him in the midst ofdst of yyour disasour disasters? He never promised tters? He never promised there where wouldn’t be touldn’t be trials. He neverrials. He never promi

promised we wouldsed we wouldn’t have to wipe n’t have to wipe aawaway somy some teae tears alonrs along the g the wawayy.. What He has promised us is that we are not tested with any What He has promised us is that we are not tested with any obstacle we can’t overcome. And we will never have to face the obstacle we can’t overcome. And we will never have to face the harsh winds of

harsh winds of life alone. God is there with us and has equippedlife alone. God is there with us and has equipped us—long befor

us—long before He trusted us e He trusted us with the struggle. He with the struggle. He knoknows betterws better than we do what we can handle. He also knows what’s required than we do what we can handle. He also knows what’s required for us to mature into the masterpieces He designed.

for us to mature into the masterpieces He designed. My son is in the ﬁft

My son is in the ﬁfth grade, and I can already tell how his child-h grade, and I can already tell how his child-like tendencies are changing into full-blown adolescence. Before like tendencies are changing into full-blown adolescence. Before

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Life Doesn’t Always Go As Planned Life Doesn’t Always Go As Planned

my very eyes my little boy is becoming a teen. I can tell in the my very eyes my little boy is becoming a teen. I can tell in the way his thoughts are evolving and his mannerisms are changing. way his thoughts are evolving and his mannerisms are changing.

I am usually the youngest mom a

I am usually the youngest mom at his class part his class parties. Tties. To his peerso his peers this somehow makes me the coolest mom. It makes me the most this somehow makes me the coolest mom. It makes me the most afraid. I know too well the results of peer pressure. I can only afraid. I know too well the results of peer pressure. I can only imagine how my parents felt when they learned he was coming imagine how my parents felt when they learned he was coming into the

into the wworld—world—when I was barely a teen myself. On one sihen I was barely a teen myself. On one side, theirde, their ministr

ministry wy was risingas rising; on the other side, life was not going as planned.; on the other side, life was not going as planned. Their coura

Their courage during that time ge during that time taught me a taught me a lesson I utilize nowlesson I utilize now that

that I’m watching my I’m watching my son mason mature. Yture. You doou don’t broadcast n’t broadcast evevery ery fearfear.. You don’t give space to negativity when your life isn’t going as You don’t give space to negativity when your life isn’t going as plan

planned. Yned. You have to be carefuou have to be careful who yl who you allow to spou allow to speak inteak into youro your life when y

life when you’re most vou’re most vulnerable. In your most diulnerable. In your most difficult days youfficult days you must remember to focus on the things that make you feel closest must remember to focus on the things that make you feel closest to God. When I was first pregnant with my son, I watched my to God. When I was first pregnant with my son, I watched my parents go to church ev

parents go to church every Sery Sunday to wunday to worship at Hiorship at His feet. Only as feet. Only a few people in t

few people in the room knew in thhe room knew in those early days, wose early days, when the hen the wwoundound was yet fresh. My parents didn’t have to expose their wound to was yet fresh. My parents didn’t have to expose their wound to people in order to give it to God. The beauty of prayer is that people in order to give it to God. The beauty of prayer is that your heart is able to connect so purely with God. Our your heart is able to connect so purely with God. Our broken-ness is most beautiful when we’re in His presence. While Ruth ness is most beautiful when we’re in His presence. While Ruth was facing a tragic time in her life, she’d made a commitment to was facing a tragic time in her life, she’d made a commitment to God over a decade prior.

God over a decade prior.

When we decide to make Him ruler of

When we decide to make Him ruler of our lives, wour lives, we do so know-e do so know-ing that

ing that each day maeach day may not y not be easybe easy, but each wil, but each will serve a pul serve a purpose.rpose. J

Just as Rust as Ruth could not anticipate that the deauth could not anticipate that the death of th of her husbandher husband w

would be the beginning of ould be the beginning of her new life, wher new life, we also lose sight of e also lose sight of thethe fact that our troubles are only temporary. Even after having and fact that our troubles are only temporary. Even after having and losi

losing it all, we must remember thang it all, we must remember that wt whatever—or whomever—whatever—or whomever—wee lost, we have not lost God.

lost, we have not lost God.

Sometimes He removes all the distractions from our lives so Sometimes He removes all the distractions from our lives so that we can focus solely on

that we can focus solely on Him. Do noHim. Do not givt give up e up wwhen life dohen life doesn’tesn’t go as planned. Instead, remember that all things work together go as planned. Instead, remember that all things work together

(16)

20 20

COLLIDING WITH DESTINY COLLIDING WITH DESTINY

for our good when we live a Christ-led life (see Romans 8:28). for our good when we live a Christ-led life (see Romans 8:28). The things that cause us the most pain are usually the roots that The things that cause us the most pain are usually the roots that develop our true purpose. So weep, feel the pain, ﬁnd a release develop our true purpose. So weep, feel the pain, ﬁnd a release for your anger, and sort through all the grief, but don’t give up for your anger, and sort through all the grief, but don’t give up on God. He’s there in the midst of

on God. He’s there in the midst of it all.it all.

Journal

As little

As little girls, we dream about all the wgirls, we dream about all the wonderful thonderful things we will doings we will do as adults. Often these include things like obtaining our educati as adults. Often these include things like obtaining our education,on, falling in love, getting married, having children, and building a falling in love, getting married, having children, and building a career. We imagine how perfect our lives will be when we grow career. We imagine how perfect our lives will be when we grow up, our vision colored by our own innocence.

up, our vision colored by our own innocence. But soon

But soon enough we discovenough we discover the er the many obstacles many obstacles that life that life throthrowsws our wa

our wayy. Our . Our education education and career and career plans plans get pget put on ut on hold. hold. WWe falle fall in love but can’t enjoy the level of trust we once hoped for in a in love but can’t enjoy the level of trust we once hoped for in a husband. We struggle to conceive children or wrestle with the husband. We struggle to conceive children or wrestle with the decision not

decision not to havto have them. We them. We learn e learn that parenting that parenting a baby doll isa baby doll is so much easier than the beautiful, high-maintenance real thing. so much easier than the beautiful, high-maintenance real thing.

In shor

In short, we evt, we eventually learentually learn we must recalibrate our expecta-n we must recalibrate our expecta-tions and turn our attention to who God made us to be, not the tions and turn our attention to who God made us to be, not the we

well-intentill-intentioned goals oned goals by whicby which we used h we used to deﬁne to deﬁne ourselves. Wourselves. Wee have to learn to rely on Him, which is bound to take us out of have to learn to rely on Him, which is bound to take us out of our comfort zone.

our comfort zone. When you w

When you were youngeere youngerr, what was the pl, what was the plan you had for your lian you had for your life?fe? What has gotten in the way of this plan being realized?

What has gotten in the way of this plan being realized? How has the pain of losing your plan aﬀected you? How has the pain of losing your plan aﬀected you?

How have your views on God changed as a result of the How have your views on God changed as a result of the

un-expected shift? expected shift?

(17)

Life Doesn’t Always Go As Planned Life Doesn’t Always Go As Planned

Prayer

God, I admit I’m lost, hurt, and confused. I’ve remained God, I admit I’m lost, hurt, and confused. I’ve remained silent for too lon

silent for too long, and now it’g, and now it’s time to s time to give my pain give my pain a voice.a voice. It’

It’s time s time for me to for me to catch my breath catch my breath and face what’and face what’s as ahead. Ihead. I know I must accept that I’m broken before I can be healed. know I must accept that I’m broken before I can be healed. I need

I need YYou, Lord. And ou, Lord. And like Ruth, like Ruth, I’m wiI’m willing lling to follow Yto follow Youou to my divine destiny. Amen.

Colliding With Destiny

FINDING HOPE

FINDING HOPE

LEGACY OF RUTH

LEGACY OF RUTH

S

S

ARAH

ARAH

J

J

AKES

AKES

5

5

Because I needed

Because I needed to believe I wasn’t alone,

to believe I wasn’t alone,

I found a woman who went ahead of us a

I found a woman who went ahead of us a

and showed

and showed at grace survives

at grace survives

our most broken

our most broken moments.

moments.

Contents

Contents

Introduction

Introduction

N

N

1

1

Life Doesn’t Always

Life Doesn’t Always

Go A

Go As Planne

s Planne

d

d

I

I

W

W

Journal

Journal

Prayer

Prayer