The book of Ruth is quite an interesting story. Prior to
this week if I needed to give it a one
word summary, it would be dedication.
“16 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. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death
separates you and me.”
As I looked at it more the last several days, a shift has taken place, now that one word would be determination.
“18 When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her,
she stopped urging her.”
I would say the book of Ruth is one of the easier books to read in the Old
Testament (yes, there is a love story and a happy ending and that can make for a happy heart!!) This week a new awareness in this book came for me.
Focusing on the determination of Ruth, I wondered where that determination came from? As I read the first 15 verses, I had a clearer picture of where that determination might have come from. That possibly being the grief and hardship that came from the deaths of her father-in-law, husband and brother-in-law. Once worked through (not that it is easy) grief and hardship can make a space for growth. I have said this many times-I do not like struggle or pain, but what comes from it can be huge and healthy.
I pondered what I have gained through grief and hardship, and I could relate to Ruth. A God inspired determination can form from struggling through some really tough stuff and good can come out of tragedy. I would say that determination for what is good and right would be one of those things.
When you think of the word determination, is there a place in your life that determination came from struggle? Maybe something else that built your character came from struggle. What is your conversation like with God as you talk about what comes from struggle?
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