Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Mission Trips

Volunteer abroad this year on a short term global missions trip offered by one of the best, most-reliable Christian missions organizations in the world.

1-Year Full-Time Internships

Internship opportunities with Cru's ministries.

Careers

If you're looking for the best Christian jobs and careers, check out Cru's ministry job openings for full- and part-time missionaries and professionals.

Go International

Live in another country building relationships and ministries with eternal impact.

Volunteer Opportunities

Would you like to give your time to work with Cru? We need you.

Events

Find a Cru event near you.

Explore Your Interests

Use your hobbies and interests to find the best place for you to serve.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

How One Woman Saved Her Family: A Story of Hope

Hope is a belief that something better is on the horizon. It is more than a wish for a better tomorrow. Instead, it has a firm foundation in truth that points toward a future of fulfilled promises.

Can Hope Last?

There is a story in the Old Testament of a woman named Naomi who had lost hope.

There was a famine, so Naomi’s husband took her and their two boys to live where they could find food. Time passed, and her husband died. Her sons married, but soon, they died too. Naomi found herself alone with two young daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.

Naomi had lost everything: her home, her husband and her sons. She could not see happiness in her future, and she urged the young women to leave for a better life.

Naomi was so devastated she even chose a new name for herself, Mara, meaning “bitter.” For Naomi, hope had run out. This was the end of her story.

Or, so she thought.

Can Hope Make a Difference?

Ruth saw the world differently than Naomi.

Both were widowed and had lost any security they may have had in the past. Naomi was bitter, but Ruth saw her future by Naomi’s side, with Naomi’s people and worshipping Naomi’s God.

Ruth chose to trust in the customs and ways of these new people she had made her home with. She leaned on the mercy found in their laws that allowed her to gather grain from the fields so she could provide food for both of them. She trusted in her mother-in-law's knowledge as she sought protection and a future.

Ultimately, Ruth’s hope was realized, and Naomi’s faith was restored.

The book of Ruth, where Naomi’s story is found, ends with Naomi’s hope for a better future restored.

Offering Hope

Living in community and loving one another well is work. We each have something to contribute.

Perhaps, like Ruth, your contribution will be as an example of hope. Our actions and our beliefs impact others. Our good deeds, faith, hope and love can change the future for those we love.

Hope can last.

Next Steps:

Read the book of Ruth. Pay attention to the contrast and the similarities between Ruth and Naomi. Pay close attention to what the women say to Naomi at the end. How did Ruth help transform Naomi’s life?

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.