When their husbands died, Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah experienced a unique bonding process. Unless you’ve been through it, it’s hard to understand. It’s a fellowship not born of age, race, background or status, and it brings together the oddest people. When you’re hurting, don’t look for understanding and support from those who haven’t walked in your shoes. People can’t give you what they don’t have. Often the best they have to offer is the kind of advice that’s glib, and quickly becomes annoying. Furthermore, until you start to make sense of your pain and see the greater good in it, you can feel like a victim. But once you see God’s grace at work, and His hand in it all, you can begin to move ahead: to marry, to have another baby, to get another job, to dream another dream, to live again.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, “Just as old soldiers compare stories and scars, when we arrive at our heavenly home we’ll tell of the faithfulness of God Who brought us through. I wouldn’t like to be pointed out as the only one who never experienced sorrow, or feel like a stranger in the midst of that sacred fellowship. Therefore be content to share in the battle, for soon we will wear the crown.”

When life suddenly changes and you’re fighting just to get through another day, remind yourself that Satan hasn’t snatched the steering wheel from God. No, God is aware of what you’re going through and He still has a plan for your life. Be encouraged. You gain through your pain. Victory is born out of struggle. Hold on to His hand; He will bring you through this.

 Ruth’s life was spiraling downward. Her husband died. She’d left her old home in Moab and wasn’t accepted in her new one in Bethlehem. She was in survival mode, making the best of a bad deal by gleaning just enough to stay alive. Then God turned things around. The reapers began deliberately dropping handfuls of barley in her path. She started picking up undeserved blessings. Why? Because Boaz saw Ruth gleaning and told his workers, “leave them for her to pick up” (Ru 2:16 NIV). Even though Boaz had never spoken directly to Ruth, she still received the blessing. There’s an important lesson here: You don’t know what God has spoken over your life, but suddenly everything changes! Doors open, opportunities come, people you thought didn’t notice you, or even like you, begin showing you favor. What’s happening? Your steps are being ordered by the Lord (See Ps 37:23).When the Israelites came into the Promised Land God told them, I’m giving you “vineyards…you did not plant” (Dt 6:11 NKJV). God can put you in situations where others do the work and you get the benefit. And you don’t even have to worry, or get jealous about somebody else getting what’s yours, because nobody can glean it except you.
Ruth started out for one destination and “found herself” in another. When Boaz called her name, she came from the background to a place of blessing in the foreground. Instead of working in a corner of the field, she ended up owning the field. When God moves, that’s how quickly it can happen. So be ready!

Ruth told Naomi, “Where you go I will go.” You can spend your life anywhere with anybody doing anything, then suddenly meet someone and sense that there is a connection between you. It’s what made Elisha quit farming and follow Elijah, an eccentric prophet; it’s why Timothy hung out with Paul, an old man soon to be executed. You know intuitively, “I won’t reach my destiny without you in my life.” Looking back you realize if you hadn’t met that certain person, or taken that phone call, or read that email, you wouldn’t be where you are today.
On the other hand, “Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye” (Ru 1:14 NIV). Now Orpah’s leaving didn’t make her a bad person; it just meant her part in the story was over. Recognize when somebody’s part in your story is over, otherwise you’ll just keep trying to raise the dead. David pleaded with God for his newborn baby’s life. “He fasted…spent the nights lying on the ground…and…would not eat” (2Sa 12:16-17 NIV). But when the child died he had to accept that there was nothing more he could do, so he “got up…washed…changed his clothes…and he ate” (2Sa 12:20 NIV). Acknowledge when something is over. If God means you to have it, He’ll give it to you. If you’ve tried to make it work and it hasn’t, accept His will in the matter. Get up, go to the mall, buy yourself a new outfit, treat yourself to a good meal; start living again! Never beg anyone to stay with you against their will. Their leaving is no accident; it just means God has something better in store for you (and possibly them too), so trust Him and move on!

 

Can you imagine how Ruth felt? She was bereaved by loss, penniless, worried about the future, coming out of famine, then suddenly having more than she needed dropped into her lap. She didn’t deserve it, didn’t earn it, and couldn’t even understand it. That’s how God works.
But a word of caution: When you’re not used to being blessed it can go to your head! The Bible says: “Remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to [succeed in life]” (Dt 8:18 AMP). God is the One Who enables you to do what others find difficult or impossible; in some cases they are taking classes to do what you do naturally. That’s because God has blessed you with ability. “Why would He do that?” you ask. Because there’s a direct correlation between your blessings and your life’s purpose. God doesn’t bless you so you can hoard, or strut. Whether His blessings come in the form of increased finances, improved health or greater influence, God’s gifts are just tools to reposition you so that you can do His will. The enemy isn’t just after your provision, He’s after your purpose! What good is success if you are not in the will of God? When God gives you something, He wants you to use it for His glory. So when God gives you His blessings, be sure to read the instructions that go with them – only then will you please Him and find fulfillment! And one more thing, always remember that God is the source of everything you have – and ever will have!