The book of Ruth is a beautiful little story right in the middle of a difficult time, and we see a fantastic story of Ruth, her unwavering faith, and what the love of God is like. How we behave in adversity and challenges depends entirely on who the God we say we believe in. With her unyielding spirit, Ruth came to believe in our living and faithful God, who enables us to act and react biblically.

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went on a sojourn in the country of Moab with his wife and his two sons. The man’s name was Elimelech, a man of faith and integrity. His wife’s name was Naomi, a woman who would experience great loss and grief. The names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, young men who would also face their share of hardships. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, a family with a rich history and heritage. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.

However, Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of one was Orpah, and the name of the other was Ruth. They lived there for about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died so the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. – Ruth 1:1-5

As we read the Bible, we must be reminded that the names are not fictional. These are the names of real people in real places living real lives. In the book of Ruth, we open up with devastating words, and things go from bad to worse. It’s easy to imagine Naomi’s grief as she attended funeral after funeral, standing at the graveside of her husband and then both of her sons. Calamity engulfed three defenseless women. Nonetheless, God worked through Ruth’s background. In Ruth’s time, we see God’s favor in a time of unfavorable circumstances.

It’s important to note that in Ruth’s time, it was customary to belong to the same God as one’s people group or tribe. However, Ruth made a different choice. In clinging to Naomi, she was, above all else, clinging to Yahweh. This choice was significant because it demonstrated Ruth’s faith and trust in God, even amid a heathen country. It was a choice that would shape the course of her life and the lives of those around her.

In this fallen world, we see much of the same in our current culture. We are a broken people; as we face suffering, we will weep and mourn like Naomi. However, we need more than self-help books to deal with our grief. We need King Jesus, who is not detached but sympathizes with us in suffering, offering us comfort and solace.

You might be overwhelmed with life’s circumstances and maybe in a season of needing help, but our comfort is not the end in itself. We may not always understand what our sovereign God, who reigns over all things, is doing, but he is the same God who is at work in the details of our lives. Who will you choose to cling to today?

As you reflect on the story of Ruth and Naomi, consider who you choose to cling to amid hard circumstances. Are you relying on your strength or putting your trust in God? Take time to pray and ask God to give you the faith and courage to trust Him, even when things seem overwhelming. And if you’re interested in further study, check out the suggested Bible verses in the post.

For further study, Ruth 1:1-5; John 16:33; Heb. 4:14-16; 2 Cor. 1:3-7
*Sources listed in last post of series.