“‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.’ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’” Ruth 1:15-16 NIV
It’s been one of those weeks y’all where I’m not necessarily being the best implementer of the things I know to be true. Some might say that I’m not “practicing what I preach” if you will. Last night I cried myself to sleep, and then I started to laugh at myself for crying myself to sleep. I legit said aloud, “girl, get it together!”
I am saying yes to everything for either personal or financial fulfillment, which means that I’m tired, overworked, and cranky. But even in the midst of all these challenges, many of which are self-imposed because I have not mastered the ability to say no or because I am not controlling my thoughts, God’s goodness and greatness still abounds around me.
Anyone who knows me knows that I am a fairly private person. Even with people who are close to me, I only share what I want them to know regardless of how much I may share. In this moment of guardedness, I was reminded that God still sends people we need for tasks big and small.
Before I even knew that I would cry myself to sleep, I purchased an item for work for in-store pick-up. Because I am out of town, I selected a location close to where I was supposed to meet my friend for dinner. Something told me to put my friend’s name down as an alternate pick-up. I almost did not do it, thinking to myself “I’ll be right there, this is silly.” Sure enough, we ended up not meeting where I thought we would be and her being able to pick up my purchase on my behalf was a godsend.
It reminded me that even when it seems like things are falling apart around you, God’s still got you. From what we know about Naomi she had two sons, both of whom were married, and both of whom died unexpectedly. She wanted to set her daughters-in-law free from the obligation of caring for her. (Ruth 1) I imagine Naomi was thinking: “I don’t want to be a charity case.” She did not want to admit her need for help, did not want folks to see her when she was down. (Have you been there?!?) But then there was Ruth, who refused to let her go. Thank God for family and friends who love us and see us even when we’re at our worst!
I’m sure many of you know the story that Ruth went on to work in the field of a distant relative whom she ultimately married, becoming a part of the lineage of Jesus. Through it all Ruth kept her promise to Naomi. (Ruth 2-4) Now I’m not saying that the people in your life will lead you to a king or queen. (Listen, we all don’t have friends like Meghan Markle!) But I do want to encourage each of us today that no matter the burdens we carry, self-imposed or products of someone else’s shenanigans, God does not intend for us to bear them alone. He will always send people to minister to us, to be there for us, to help carry the load for our situations. The question is: are we willing enough to accept the help, to say yes, to ask and make our needs known, and to not carry it on our own? How can God bless us if we keep our hearts and our hands closed?
Reflection
What loads am I carrying on my own? Are there people God has placed in my life or brought to my mind that can help me in these situations? What’s stopping me from connecting with them?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the gift of relationships. Forgive me for not taking advantage of this precious resource. Help me to see from Your perspective and grant me the ability to accept help from those around me. Keep me humble and open to Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash
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