Ruth 2:1, “Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.”
Ruth 3:9, “’Who are you?’ he asked. ‘I am your servant Ruth,’ she said. ‘Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.’”
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
God’s timing is perfect in life and love. When we are discouraged in the middle of our circumstances, it is easy to believe that God is overlooking the details of our lives and doesn’t care. And if we aren’t watching for Him, we might mistake His goodness as just good luck.
A great example of this can be found in the Book of Ruth. Naomi and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, were reeling with disappointment and loss. They were widows and famine survivors who had no place to go and no one to provide for them. They moved back to Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem at the beginning of the harvest. Naomi sent Ruth to the fields to pick up leftover grain, and she just happened to end up in Boaz’s field, a wealthy distant relative who, based on their laws and customs, would be eligible to marry Ruth. God was placing the pieces together.
Ruth had taken a great step of faith by choosing to leave her comfort zone and worship Naomi’s God. And because she chose to trust in God, she found her future. She laid her plans at God’s feet and He guided her steps. Imagine if Ruth would have chosen not to journey to Bethlehem with Naomi, and she would've stayed with what was comfortable. Ruth wouldn't have given birth to Obed, who was the dad of Jesse, who was the dad of David, who was in the lineage of Jesus. Each day we have a choice to trust His timing, to lay our plans at His feet.
What are you trusting God for today? As you wait for Him to reveal His timing, what is a step of obedience You can take today?
Christ, as I wait on Your timing in my life, help me keep my eyes on You. Allow me to stay focused on Your goodness and mercy. I trust that Your hand will guide me. Amen.