The book of Ruth opens with difficulty: there is famine in Israel, causing Elimelek and his wife Naomi to leave the promised land with their two sons in search of food in Moab. They settle. Their sons marry. Then tragedy strikes: Elimelek and their two sons both die. The turning point in the story is the news that “the Lord had come to the aid of his people” (1:6-7), prompting a return to Israel. What do we do when our world falls apart? What can we learn from Naomi & Ruth’s story about who God is in times of difficulty and tragedy? When the troubles of life have driven us far from God, how can we make our way back?