Have you ever found yourself in a situation where all you could do was wait? I have––and it’s not my favorite. There are times we wait for news from the doctor. Many of us have waited to hear if we got the job, got into our college of choice, or even waited to hear if our babies were healthy.
It’s there in the in-between where the results are no longer up to us. All we can do is ask, pray…and wait.
It’s tough to fully comprehend the grief, loss, and discomfort that Ruth and Naomi must have walked through. Displaced and left with nothing, they had to completely rely on the generosity of others and trust that God would take care of the details.
In today’s reading, Ruth goes to Boaz and asks him to be their redeemer. He gives her shelter and a generous portion of food to take home to Naomi (Ruth 3:15). But when it came to the answer that would determine their future, she had to wait.
Can you imagine the sadness, anxiousness and fear of not knowing who would protect you, or how you would even survive? And yet when Ruth returns to Naomi, she too tells Ruth simply to wait.
My daughter, wait until you find out how things go, for he won’t rest unless he resolves this today.
—Ruth 3:18
After Ruth stepped forward in faith, her responsibility was to wait. In the middle, when she didn’t know the details, God was working all along. I love that in this story, and throughout Scripture, we’re given guidance on how to wait for God’s wisdom and timing. I know I need these reminders more than I care to admit! We are called to “trust the LORD and do what is good” (Psalm 37:3), to not be frustrated when evil people succeed (v.7), and to rejoice always and not worry about the future (Philippians 4:4–6).
While we wait, we can remember that the Lord establishes our steps (Psalm 37:23), He is a God of justice, and He does “not abandon his faithful ones” (v.28).
So where and when in our lives have we been desperate like Ruth and Naomi? When has God been our only possible answer? That’s where we will come to know and trust Him even more.
If you are waiting today, you may feel anxious. You may feel vulnerable. But remember that vulnerability is often where God does His greatest work.
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70 thoughts on "Ruth Waits for Redemption"
The psalms passage does a beautiful job contrasting wicked and righteous!
Day 9 done. Learning to wait well.
I have turned to prayer when my anxiety kicks in and it has been such a comfort.
This is a devotional I can read to my young daughters ❤️ waiting can be so tough, but His hands are always working!
In this fast paced world so many have become impatient; waiting in lines, honking at red lights. Waiting is such a blessing. Love this teaching. Blessed are those who wait for our God will provide.
This devotional is truly a blessing and a great opportunity to see waiting in a totally different light. I found myself in bad positions because I just got to the point that I was tired of waiting and went out and did my own thing and everything single time I did that it blew up in my face. Something would always go wrong or I’d end up hurting emotionally. Now that I’ve finally matured a bit with the help of the holy spirit I’m learning to trust in the Lord more and lean not to my own understanding,and in all my ways acknowledge the Lord and God will direct my path. We don’t know what God is doing but we know that he’s always working things out in our favor. I’ve learned that even in the midst of a storm God is good. In those times where I was wounded God kept me, covered me, and comforted me. Boaz gave Ruth six measures of barely, and told her do not return to your mother- in -law empty handed. Reminds me how God will not leave us empty handed.So we must be encouraged in the wait.Roman’s 8:28. Great devotional a powerful reminder that whatever season of waiting you are in God will see you through. Be blessed
What a great way to look at waiting! God is working in the waiting, so I have nothing to fear or worry about. I love this reminder!!!
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Amen. Waiting is always the hardest part for me. Love this devotional ❤️❤️
I take comfort in knowing that everything will be resolved in God’s time. To my disadvantage I often rush and hurry processes and I’ve plan. And this word probably contradicts what our societal environments say but nevertheless it stands as truth. Waiting in the Lord is the precursor to a resolved life. Father help me to embrace this truth and to discipline my mind and thoughts to wait on you.
Lord please move radically in the heart of Lauren’s husband. I pray he would hear and see clearly how much you love him and how much you desire to be in relationship with him.
Amen, Terri. I know what your saying, I felt as though I was looking in a mirror. Thank you for sharing. God bless everyone of you ladies. ❤️
Even though waiting seasons are so hard, I have found that oftentimes I can be closer to God in the waiting then when I am walking in an answered prayer. While I know this shouldn’t be the case, I will say that waiting seasons have helped me grow and they have also helped me see the character of God and His consistency. He is faithful.
Love this line from Abby: If you are waiting today, you may feel anxious. You may feel vulnerable. But remember that vulnerability is often where God does His greatest work.
Waiting man…that is something I know well. Do I wait well? Not always! I am in a waiting season now- waiting to move and buy a home, waiting for the business to really take off, waiting for a spouse. I know God is faithful in all things, and I know that waiting isnt passive, it is actively trusting that God will take care of me. When I find myself worrying or doubting while I wait, I try to remember the times that God led me and got me to where I am. It helps so much.
Praying for all who have prayer requests-God hears you, knows your needs and will provide for you.
Waiting is always hard because we want everything fixed like now! In the many seasons of my life through messy divorce to getting Lyme Disease and Dysautonomia to losing my job because of my health to always worrying about my son to make better life choices…….so many ups and downs and in those times we need God’s help. We need to remember to pray and give it all to Him and thank Him for all our blessings.
Such a powerful word in today’s devotion, Ruth stepping out on faith and her research to wait. We are called to “trust the Lord and do what is good.” (Psalms 37:3). If you are waiting today and feeling vulnerable. Remember that vulnerability is often wnere God does His greatest work.
I have had seasons of waiting but the biggest one that is continuous is the wait and hope that my husband will come to Christ. He is not a believer. As much as I want him to accept Christ as his savior, all I can do is pray and trust God. My husband needs to do it for himself, and not because of pressure from me.
“In the middle when she didn’t know the details, God was working all along.” May we have faith to believe God is working while we wait. May we never lose HOPE.
Good morning! I just read the first 3 comments here, but praying for Kimberly Z, Kristina Stump, and amen to Lauren’s prayer for Lynn an her husband. May His Word ring true in our minds today so we don’t believe lies whether we are waiting or not. II pray for you all today! Praise God that we can approach Him in prayer on behalf of each other! May we look to Him, as Kristina and others said, because He is our Hope!
Praying for all of you guys in a waiting period. This devotional brings me a lot of peace as I am in my own waiting period for many reasons. Waiting for the doctors to release my dad from the hospital after three weeks when it was only supposed to be one. Waiting for the right answer on whether or not I should switch jobs. I was offered a job at a different company and I know I need to talk to my current boss about it. Waiting to find a husband. I too love the song Wait on You by Maverick City. That song has gotten me through a lot of times. Along with Not in a Hurry by Will Reagan, United Persuit
Lynne- praying for your husband- that he would receive a DEEP healing from God. And I pray that the lord would comfort and carry you in this time, and give you a peace that passes understanding.
I am in the season of waiting. In May when my stress hit me at once and I felt like I couldn’t swallow. I can swallow but it’s a strange feeling and slowly eating. My sister past away from cancer, my mom has been ill and my marriage which needs work. Everyday I wait some days as a better Christian then others. The other day I started getting terrible leg pain and which is terrible timing as I’m slowly trying to go back to work for a few hours each week. Then I realize through all of my pain and grief I’m not in charge. I need to sit, be loving and think positive while god figures this out. This is not my strong suit. Today, tonight I’m begging god to help me. I’m praying that my therapist can help me. I hope god Help my family. As I sit here and think about my life right now rock bottom I look up and still believe god has the perfect plan for me. Forgive me for not always being patient yet I always believe I’m not stuck like this forever. If I say the words out loud at times it’s no reflection on my lack of faith. It’s me being flawed. I hope everyone tonight who is waiting for gods grace and direction looks up and has hope.
Coming in off the battlefield, I return to my morning post. The sun of daylight is long gone, and I am weary from the day. By God’s grace, I return to His word. “So she lay down at his feet until morning…” (Ruth 3:14a). The worldly echo chambers of darkness were pretty noisy today. When I wanted to speak out against it, I remained silent. I answered what was necessary with truth and grace. I will wait expectantly for Him (Psalm 37:7a). I turn to my Lord. I think of my inheritance, the land where I will one day dwell in permanently (v 29). Kept safe forever (v 28b). Father, mold me in Your hands. Smooth my rough edges. Return my heart to its rightful place under Your protection. Spread the hem of Your garment over me. Restore calm wisdom within me. Redeem my worry with the peace of Jesus. You are my beloved, and I am Yours. No waiting for this truth is necessary. May Your grace and mercy cover me as I go to sleep with Your love. Selah. Maranatha. Amen.
Having spent the last 2 1/2 years seeing more doctors than I have in all the years of my life prior to 2019, I’ve sat in many waiting rooms. I’ll be sitting in 2 more tomorrow. I have learned to stay in the present in the presence of God. I try my best to not let my mind and emotions go down the “what if” rabbit trail. As I face an MRI of my brain tomorrow I assume all is well unless I hear otherwise. God knows the report already. He is here with me today. He’ll be with me tomorrow and He’ll be with me all the following days. My prayer has been that through all of this I would be an example of a Christian who knows this is not my home. And come what may. I’m ok. Waiting gives me plenty of opportunity to cultivate trust and submission to His will. It may look like I’m surrounded by I’m surrounded by You. (to quote one of my favorite songs!)
@Jennifer Anapol, I am also with you in this season of waiting. It is so so hard and I’ve had to rely on God through this entire journey. Praying for you in this season ♥️
Yes, I been in the waiting season a lot… when my daughter was in 3rd grade, she was diagnosed with a brain lesion… had spinal taps and MRIs every three months until she was in 8th grade… the “living in between” the scans was very hard… in 8th grade the brain lesion changed and the doctor said we needed to do a biopsy… it turned out to be a large brain tumor that needed to be removed… my daughter spent her summer before high school having two brain surgeries, and started high school with part of her head shaved… she still had MRIs every 3 months and we lived in the waiting… my daughter is now a freshman in college, and her MRIs are spaced to once a year… Waiting is hard, but I have learned to relie on the Lord throughout these waiting seasons… ❤️ When I was 13, my next door neighbor Andrew, age 10, died of a brain tumor… so all throughout childhood, I would pray to God to not let me have a child with a brain tumor… I guess sometimes God is telling us that he’s in charge!
@Mandi… Prayers for Sarah, and that this new treatment works! @ Renee K… Prayers that Joe’s full vision be restored… @Alexa… Congratulations on the birth of your baby boys!! You knew from your mama heart that this pregnancy was going to continue, and that God would provide for you and the babies; we always need to trust our intuition because it’s from God!! ❤️
Rejoice, pray, petition, thanksgiving! We just have to ASK god and trust him In the waiting. His peace will overcome my heart and mind. When all we have left to do is wait on the lord, WHY NOT expect him to do something? It’s better than expecting nothing to happen!
I am in a season of waiting. Waiting to be healed from the pain of delivery, waiting to be comfortable in my body again, and waiting to be able to sleep through the night again. I know that God is in the details working everything out.
Hello She
In case you missed an earlier post from Angie Mills, as you likely are coming to my post much later in the day … I recommend you scroll back & read its entirety. Meanwhile I’ll share the BIG questions she challenged us to consider:
“How is God providing for you?
How has God provided for you in unexpected ways?
Are you noticing all the ways in which God has provided for you?
How can you wait for His provision in a way that honors and glorifies Him?”
Powerful questions to ponder. Journal your answers like me, in recognition & rededication.
I am prone to impatience, anxiety, fear, contradiction, self pitying, self centeredness, depression & doubt. The questions Angie raises get to the heart of the trust, obedience, faith, & hope…present or lacking in me. And watch for & wait on our loving God instead.
I’m trying, when confronted with BIG feelings, to practice “R & R”, standing for “Remember & Right”. REMEMBER what God has already done in my life. Look for what could go RIGHT rather than what could go wrong. Learn to relax & relate. Knees down in prayer. Arms lifted in praise.
Like Lauren Daigle sings in the titled album, “Look Up Child”.
Selah.
Trusting in the Lord demands Ruth to put herself out there, requesting a man to marry/redeem her. There was a funny quote that came to my mind, “no one is more determined than a woman rearranging furniture by herself”. I think there’s no one more determined than a woman who put herself out there on a threshing floor (like Ruth), only to be told to wait. Just like a proposal scene, “will you marry me?” “wait please”. If the woman is not humble, she cannot take this. This shows Ruth’s character. God gives more grace to the humble, notice if there is “more grace”, this implies there is “less grace” for the less humble. May we be wise in our walk with God and watch our reaction.
“Though he falls, he will not be overwhelmed, because the LORD supports him with his hand” Psalm 37:24. Falling is a sure possibility for the righteous on our journey. I used to fall feeling overwhelmed (when embarrassment, regrets, self blaming, hurt flooded in). I used to fall and not feeling overwhelmed, spared from the hard blow and all of the above, with stillness and peace of mind during and after the fall. How? Glory to God’s hand. He keeps my mind. Mental health matters. Peace of mind maters. It is such a secret weapon when God promises to guard our mind for us (Philippians 4:7). If any of our dear she’s is dealing with mental issues, I encourage you to pray that verse Philippians 4:7 over your mind. Peace heals! We deserve a healthy mental state. Ask the Prince of Peace to guard your mind for you daily! The righteous can fall, as falling and getting up is part of growth to build character, but we can rest assured we won’t be overwhelmed because God’s invisible hand will be there as He promises. Please involve God in all things through prayers and petitions, with a humble attitude. Being overwhelmed on a mental roller coaster is not worth it.
May God’s hand be with you today, to all who is reading this, to catch you from any unforeseen fall and keep you in tact. Be blessed dear sisters.
My hardest and longest wait I ever had to make was when they were searching for my son after he went into the creek. It took around 20 hours before they found him. I was thankful I had my faith, family and friends with me throughout the whole time. Since then I have been able to move on and help others. Yes I still mourn him and miss him but I know he is with the Lord. I know one day I will be reunited with him. I tell people I can just see him every time one of my other family members dies he greets them and how they react. We laugh and remember the good times.
Yes waiting is hard but God has us wait for a reason. What’s the saying, “patience is a virtue”?
In my devotional Bible is a prayer I would like to share, “Dear God, Align Your daughter’s heart with Yours and then give her the desires of her heart. Make her joy complete and accomplish Your purpose through her. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Be blessed and WAIT to see what the Lord has in store for you next, sisters.
Good Afternoon She’s!
I loved this part of Ruth! Oh the waiting!! It is So, SO hard!! We are usually all a people of wanting to take action, fix things, and do things as we see fit!! Then something out of our control can quickly put us in our place!! Suddenly we are not able to fix or control, and that’s when we can do nothing but drop to our knees and call out to our GOD!! Hallelujah! Sad that that’s what it takes to get our attention, and turn our focus upwards!! But since that moment in my own life, over 20 years ago, I keep God forefront, above all, leader of my feet, light of my path!! What a peace it gives. There is joy in the waiting. There is growth in the waiting. And that mountain can look so daunting and overwhelming at times (and the valley is not a fun place to be!), BUT GOD, He is our shelter, our wing, our reliance! He is good.
I love the song by Dante Bowe, or Maverick City/Elevation…Wait on You! Says the verses we read, and it is a crying out, praising in the storm kinda song. But rest assured, we have a Big God that can change any circumstance, just wait on Him and watch! It will be fun when we are in heaven to see how things could have went with out Him, on our own accord!
Praying for Joe all of those requests and for wisdom for the doctors in Jesus name.
I am waiting for my son to be well. He has suffered with anxiety and panic disorder for a long time and he dropped out of school two years ago because of this. He is 18 years old and a lovely young man. All we can do it wait, for a miracle, for the Lord to lift him out of the slough. I know my son must take steps in this process so I am waiting and trusting.
For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to keep that which I have entrusted to Him against that day. 2 Timothy 1 v 12.
Oh how I needed this devotional today. I am so impatient sometimes and my inclination is to step in and try to make things happen. Lord, quiet my heart and soul. Let me rest in you and you alone.
Right now we are in a major waiting situation…my hubby is looking for jobs, we are looking to move from NJ to Florida…and looking for houses as our landlady is selling the house we are in & we cannot afford to purchase it. We KNOW God is good. We KNOW He is faithful. We don’t know how all of this will work out, it looks impossible but we know it will. He is the God of impossiblities, of miracles. Nothing is too hard for Him! Thank You Jesus, in advance!
Good morning all…this lesson is perfect timing as my family is being to ask and WAIT for the Lord to act. Will you please pray for my son, Joe? We learned Friday that he has a pituitary tumor that is causing loss of vision. We are meeting with doctors today to learn next steps. This will involve surgery for sure. Would you please pray that 1. Joes vision will be maintained/not worsen while we wait for surgery. 2. The tumor would be benign 3. No other structures in brain or pituitary would be damaged 4. JOES FULL VISION IS RESTORED 5.Joes faith in God would be strengthened through this experience. Thank you for praying!! I’m trusting in the goodness of God!! ❤️
Just wanting to share a quick story. Early on in my faith I went to a Womens conference at my church where a women who didn’t even go to the church just happened to be there and just happened to sing this verse “31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. – Isaiah 40:31” with the most beautiful voice I have ever heard. That song still rings in my ears almost 20 years later. What a blessing and reminder especially now when a season of waiting for 10 years has finally ended!!! God is good all the time !!! So excited for the new season of waiting – this time going to do it with open arms and ready to receive all God has to give!!!
this is exactly what my heart needed this morning. i started freelancing out of college in film/video making and i’m at a point where i’m doing the work, but waiting on the next thing/the next client/the next direction. i’ve been anxious but this was such a balm to my soul this morning! i love the verse ruth 3:18. what an encouragement
I just went through an extremely high risk pregnancy. Doctors recommended that I get an abortion (TWO times), my twins were misdiagnosed and I was told I only had a 25% chance of getting to 20 weeks and the babies would most likely die after delivery. I trusted the Lord and waited it out. After continuous trials throughout the whole pregnancy; two separate hospital stays, transfusion due to loss of blood, and a shortened cervix at 20 weeks, I gave birth a week before my schedule c-section to two healthy baby boys! All the doctors on our team were completely shocked. God is so good! That was the hardest “wait” of my whole life.
Oh… have I been and experienced anxiety in the waiting period. BUT GOD…. I had no other place to turn to but to my GOD!! And I know that I know, He has been with me every step of the way. I not once have felt abandoned. And thank you to all of you who are praying. I was voicing my post and I wasn’t clear. What I meant to say was, the restraining order that is in place right now is about to expire in a few months. It will be five years. And I am needing to extend that restraining order. I do not like going to court. It gets me worked up.
Lanie, thank you for your comments. Waiting is hard for us all and your funny reminder that God can be very clear to us when He wants us to wait on Him. Waiting is an act of obedience and a way that we show God we love and trust Him. How wonderful we can do that!
I would love prayers for my 16 year old daughter, Sarah, today. She will get her first hospital infusion of a new medication we hope will work for a chronic health condition she has had since she was 3. It’s been a long road- one that has often had me reciting Philippians 4:4-7 to myself. Please Pray that the medication would have its intended effect, that she wouldn’t have any dangerous reactions, and that God’s presence in her life would be evident to both her and those we come in contact with. Thank you!
Good morning She’s. I would love some prayers for my younger sister, she is 18 and really struggling with mental health and has chosen to move out of my parents home. She is making some poor choices. Please pray that she would seek the Lord and that He would be a comfort to her and that my family and I would know how to support her.
Naomi could no longer say that her hands were empty. Now they were full because of the grace of the kinsman-redeemer. Ruth’s faith and obedience had brought about a complete transformation in their lives and now they were living by grace. And Now they waited. “Be still and know that I am God.” Ps 46:10. One of the few verses I actually have memorized…I’ve relied on it so many times. Waiting is never easy. But waiting in peace…now that takes real intention, Waiting while you are fretful doesn’t help anyone. A fretful heart is not a trusting heart. Unless we learn to wait silently before God, we will never experience His peace. Hugs to each of you ❤️
I shall always wait for You, Jesus.
Good morning sisters! Prayers appreciated as I decided to start working from home this week! Should provide a lot more flexibility and I hope help my anxiety. My desk set up is in my bedroom though, but please pray for peace and that I can adjust to this and that I wouldn’t allow mean calls to get to me. Thank you all!!
Praying for you and Jack @Lynne from AL!!
I definitely needed this devotion today. I spend so much time worrying about the future. Psalm 37:3 makes it clear what I am to do instead of worrying: trust in the Lord and do good. I also liked in Psalm 37:23-24 it’s not guaranteed we won’t stumble and mess up and things not go our way, BUT the Lord upholds me with His hand. I definitely needed to read Philippians 4:6-7 to remind myself that when I feel anxious to PRAY, and trust that He will give me His peace. God IS working in my waiting. The Lord establishes my steps. He does not abandon His faithful ones. Vulnerability is often where God does His greatest work. May it be so Lord. Amen <3
Oh Father! We don’t know Jack and Lynne personally but you know every cell of their being. You know the road they are walking and You know the outcome. We pray for wisdom and discernment for the medical staff. We pray for strength and peace as well as grace and mercy for Lynne and Jack as they fight this battle. We pray for a strong group of prayer warriors to surround them with love and support during this time. We are asking all of this in the beautiful name of Jesus. ❤️
Praying for you and your husband Lynne!
Praying for you and Jack!
Boss’s character! *
lol I use a very old tablet to type my devos bc it doesn’t have social media. Typos all over lol
I was just thinking, Ruth had to wait on Boaz. But Boaz would not disappoint her. His character is trustworthy and he even said that if the other family member didn’t redeem her, he would himself. There is a good ending for Ruth, but she has to trust Boss’s character.
Now, I think, how much more should we trust God, who is flawless in character? Who’s character doesn’t change like shifting shadows? He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. – Hebrews 13:8
The past few years I’ve been in waiting seasons. I’ve heard that the life of a Christian is marked by waiting. I’ve been in the elevator for a long time in different areas. I know I’ll get to my destination, but HOW will I wait? Will I wait with faith and hope? Will I wait with obedience? These are the tests God gives. We all must wait to see our Savior come back.
I love the NKJV of Psalm 37. I have read it so often the past year.
Psalm 37:3 NKJV: Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness. ”
My patience with finance and provision is always tested. Just yesterday, I had to tell myself, “I will not be forsaken… the Lord will not let me beg for bread.” (Psalm 37:25)
God is faithful. He will always give us a way out of our trials and will never let go of us. He upholds us by His righteous right hand.
Oh Lynne! So many prayers for you, your husband, and the medical staff.
Needed to hear this today!! I have an interview for a job that would honestly be perfect for our family even though the work is nothing I ever imagined I’d find myself doing. Already feeling the anxiety of waiting since the interview was set up yesterday. I have full trust that if this is what God wants for us He will provide. But the loom of waiting is never easy. Praying I can channel my inner-Ruth today and the rest of the week. So thankful for our good good Father.
Naomi’s faith and trust in God just exploded in these verses. Her words to Ruth do not reflect a bitter woman left “empty” but a woman with eager anticipation of God’s provision for her and Ruth.
LYNNE FROM AL – praying for your situation! May the Lord fill you with His peace while you wait. Praying that the doctors can help stabilize Jack.
MARI V – may you find favor with the authorities as you apply for that extension. May you habe a deep sense of the Lord’s protective “wings” over you.
As I read Ruth today, I am reminded of the Prodigal son. Naomi left Bethlehem to live in Moabite (the world) and is coming back to her people for redemption. The Lord and her people didn’t change, they welcomed her and her daughter with open arms. What a beautiful picture of forgiveness and love.
I have been in a season of waiting for a while now. As I grow in my faith, I see His hand more and more. There is peace in trusting the Lord… especially in the wait! Thank you Jesus!
As I read Ruth today, I am reminded of the Prodigal son. Naomi left Bethlehem to go to Moabite
Lynn from Alabama- praying for medical answers and the Lord’s healing for Jack. Praying also that you have strength in the Lord during this difficult time. ❤️
Father God I receive Ypur Peace that transcends all human understanding. I know You are ordering my steps. Holy Spirit fill me with Your comfort and presence in this knowledge today and every day. In Jesus name, Amen
LYNNE FROM AL – praying for you, sister!! For strength, endurance, rest, wisdom, guidance. And for Jack, for healing of his mind and body. For his medical team, for the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to solve this mystery now!
MARI V – praying for your continued protection!
Ruth reminds us that God is always working His plan, providing and protecting us. May I look to Him always, in good times, not-so-good times and downright bad times. Praying that I would have patience to WAIT for His guidance rather than take matters into my own hands because I think He’s not working quickly enough. And to be alert and mindful enough of Him to recognize His guidance. It is so easy to let the distractions of life draw our attention away from Him.
Wisdom is in patience. In vulnerability, God does His greatest work. A reminder that God is always working – even when we can’t see it or feel it.
God is so faithful. I value the way God has chosen to speak to us in Psalm 37. He tells us to delight in Him and He’ll give us our hearts desires. He tells us to commit our way to Him, trust Him, and He will act. Once we’ve taken our first step of surrender, He will act. Praying for open hands on things I hold close today that I may trust, commit, and delight in the Lord.
When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, she announced to those who greeted her that she wanted to be called Mara (Bitter) because she left Bethlehem full but came back empty. When Boaz measured out six measures of barley for Ruth to take to Naomi, he told her that he didn’t want her to return to Naomi EMPTY-HANDED. He is saying that he is willing to be the Lord’s provision for Naomi & Ruth.
Psalm 37:29 says, “The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it permanently.” It struck me while listening to yesterday’s podcast & reading this verse that there would have been no way for Naomi’s husband’s family to dwell permanently in the land of Israel if Naomi had been successful in turning both of her daughters-in-law back to their childhood homes. Naomi had no way to inherit her husband’s land. She was past childbearing age and could not raise another son to inherit her husband’s land. Ruth’s kindness is shown in not only meeting her mother-in-law’s immediate daily needs but in also being willing to leave her childhood home and motherland to go to Bethlehem to marry a stranger so that she can have a son who would be raised to inherit the land on behalf of Naomi’s husband. She is helping to settle her mother-in-law’s estate in a permanent way. God graciously provided for Naomi and her family was able to dwell in the land permanently because it was through the union of Boaz and Ruth that David’s grandfather was born and that the Messiah would eventually come. This story is an important redemptive story not only for Naomi & Ruth but for us as well. It tells us one way in which God provided for His Son’s family line to be established in what seemed to be impossible circumstances at the time.
Naomi complained that she came back to Bethlehem empty-handed and that the Lord opposed and afflicted her, but that was far from the truth. She returned to Bethlehem with the most important thing she could—a daughter-in-law who could marry and raise a son to inherit Naomi’s husband’s land. The Lord sent Naomi back with Ruth, a friend who was steadfastly loyal to Naomi and who could help to redeem the ancestral land.
How is God providing for you? How has God provided for you in unexpected ways? Are you noticing all the ways in which God has provided for you? How can you wait for His provision in a way that honors and glorifies Him?
Good morning She’s! My sweet hubby Jack had to be admitted to the hospital over the weekend. He is completely delusional and the doctors are desperately seeking answers for the cause. He has several medical issues but nothing has been found that should be causing this. It could by psychological trauma from all that has happened this year. Please pray for wisdom for the doctors and please pray that I can continue to be strong. I am barely hanging on. Thank you so much!
Waiting is so hard! It is a weakness of all mankind. But it is in our weakness that we can see His strength.
Thank you for the gentle reminder to wait on you Lord. Guide my steps Father.
Thank you ABBY FLYNN, for the reminder that it is in my weakness, that He is made strong. That it is in my waiting that I learn to hold even tighter to God..
Waiting. Praying. Hoping.
For I know MY Redeemer lives and He will not rest until He has resolved ‘this’ today!
BUT GOD.
AMEN.
Hapoy Tuesday Beloveds, wrapped in love and prayers..❤