By: Amber Palmer
How do we trust God when we don’t understand His plans?
In the book of Ruth, Ruth finds herself in a foreign land, not only grieving the loss of her husband but the familiarity of her life in Moab. She confidently follows her mother-in-law Naomi to Bethlehem, worshipping a foreign God, without knowing if she would endure more pain and more suffering. Ruth presses forward, continually working and following God without instant gratification, without instant reward. Her love for the Lord and Naomi led her to obey and follow no matter where it may take her or what she would experience.
You might be wondering, how can we trust God when life looks bleak?
Ruth 2:12 states, “The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”
In Ruth 2, we read about Ruth working the threshing floor in the fields of Bethlehem during the barley and wheat harvest. With no man to provide for them, Ruth and Naomi have nothing to call their own. Leviticus 19:9-10, in which God tells His people to not reap to the edges of their field or gather the gleanings of the harvest so that the poor and foreigners can come and gather, ensures Ruth is able to gather and bring home barley for her and Naomi to eat.
I’m sure Ruth and Naomi wondered why life was so heavy and bleak. Maybe they even questioned God.
All that toiling, trouble, stress, anguish, guilt, and heartache that Ruth was going through was all leading to some big things in God’s story. In her lifetime of being obedient she might have not seen the fruit of her labor come to fruition with her earthly eyes; Ruth was not going to physically see all the reasons why her troubles come out on this side of heaven but that didn’t mean that her faithfulness to keep showing up at what God called her to do, didn’t matter. It mattered tremendously! Her field would not truly blossom until her great-grandson, King David was born and even further down the line, Jesus.
Maybe like Ruth you find yourself facing grief in the loss of a child, loved one, or life you had hoped for and you’re struggling to understand why.
Your hard, painful, sometimes unappreciated work may not always be visually, or instantly rewarding but your work that you are putting forth today, the seeds you are spreading and cultivating are all for a deeper kind of work. Deeper than anything you may or may not see in your lifetime.
If you’re journeying through infertility,
experiencing the complexities of a high-risk pregnancy
or pregnancy after loss,
wading through the muck of postpartum depression,
enduring child illness or hospitalization,
or navigating the grief of child loss,
take heart knowing God is not only with you,
He is hovering over you throughout all your journeys.
Although we may not literally be in the harvest fields, we still find ourselves on our knees, in our own threshing floors of problems, medical diagnosis, and grief. Like Boaz and Ruth, Jesus meets us in our own fields and redeems us. With His love, He redeems our struggles with hope and encouragement. He is our refuge! We might not see it in our own lifetime but He is faithful to follow through on His promises and bring beauty to our ashes.
Heavenly Father, we sit humbly at your feet, in awe of your sovereignty. We may not understand the reasons why we suffer and toil on this side of heaven, but Lord you’re faithful in redeeming what the locusts ate and the tears that pour from the deep pains of our broken hearts. Like Ruth, you meet us in our own fields of grief, droughts, and heartache. You provide for us a glorious field of hope. One day we will no longer toil with tired and weary hearts on the threshing floor but rather run with you through fields of joy and peace. Help me to put my trust in you and go wherever you lead me. Help me to glean your goodness. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Dig Deeper into How to Navigate What is Ahead with Real Hope
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways does God prove for Ruth and Naomi in the midst of their grief and challenging circumstances?
2. How can you trust God when you don’t understand His plans or why hard things are happening?
Put Your Faith Into Action:
Ruth's redemption story demonstrates that sometimes we have to blindly trust God despite our circumstances. We have to hold tight not what we see but onto the Word of God, remembering He has a purpose and a plan for us and our children.
This week, we challenge you to glean from Jesus’ field of hope by writing out how you are currently seeing His goodness in your bleak situations and record scriptures that will encourage your heart. Write it out on a poster board, white board, or chalkboard where your family can see it. May this help you to keep hope springing forth in your heart!
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.” Isaiah 61:3
Further Reading:
Galatians 6:9
Isaiah 61:3
Proverbs 3:5
Verse to Meditate On or Memorize:
Galatians 6:9
Amber Palmer lives in a small farming town with her husband of 16 years and recently dipped her toes into the wild water rapids of parenting two teens. She has a big heart for encouraging women to live from the deepest peace of Jesus. Through her writing, Amber guides her readers to keep their eyes locked on Jesus through the heartbreaking and beautiful moments life may bring. She knows His presence and peace makes all the difference!
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