Read: The Book of Ruth
Reflect: Shopping complete, I loaded up the last-minute camping groceries for the weekend, buckled all three kids in and started the car. Except the car didn’t start. While I wasn’t panicking, I was definitely annoyed. But immediately I heard a voice. It was the kind older gentlemen who had commented on the kids while we were shopping. “Hey! Do you need jumped? I can do that for you.”
God provides!
With the camper set up and the kids ready for adventure, we headed out to find dinner. What were blue skies when we left quickly turned into unexpected dark storm clouds. When we returned, we found our camper awning flipped up over the top of our camper. With three kids underfoot, we attempted to lift the heavy awning off of a camper roof while standing on the back of a pick-up truck. Suddenly a voice, “Hey, do you guys need some help?” The five-year-old turned to me and said “Look, we had two helpers today!”
God provides!
Three in the morning and we wake up to a panicking three-year-old who is struggling to breathe. Each breath she takes is shallow and causing her chest to become concave. Quickly Googling for the closest emergency room, we found that Hershey Medical Center and help were 15 minutes away (a bit less if you are hurrying).
God provides!
Heading home, our brake lines on our truck blew as we traveled through a stop sign. Laying on the horn we made it through the stop sign with not a car in sight. Our parents were immediately available to come help us as we tried to get a camper, three tired kids and a broken truck home.
God provides!
While it was a weekend that I wouldn’t wish on anyone, it was a weekend where we could continually point to God’s provision.
When we enter the book of Ruth, we find a woman who is experiencing a part of her life that I am sure she wouldn’t wish on anyone. Naomi’s husband was dead. Naomi’s son, Mahlon was dead. Naomi’s son, Kilion was dead. Naomi had accepted her fate that she was to be alone as her daughters-in-law returned to their homelands. Naomi’s situation was more than sad – it was desperate. As a childless widow she had been reduced to the lowest of the low. There was no one left to care for her. However, despite Naomi’s orders, daughter-in-law Ruth stayed by Naomi’s side (Ruth 1:16).
God provides!
Moab, the current home of Ruth and Naomi, had become a place where food was scarce and people were hungry. Naomi’s homeland had been blessed and provided with food from the Lord and Ruth and Naomi arrived in Naomi’s hometown just in time for barley harvest. (Ruth 1:6).
God provides!
Ruth headed to the fields to work and ended up in the field of Boaz, a relative of Naomi and a man who loved the Lord. (Ruth 2:3)
God provides!
Boaz’s kindness to Ruth flowed forth. He gave her work. He allowed her to rest. He gave her a source to drink from. He gave her lunch. He ensured that her harvest would be plentiful. Boaz spoke over her with words of encouragement. (Ruth 2)
God provides!
Through a real estate purchase that was far from guaranteed to Boaz and a marriage proposal, Ruth and Naomi were to be cared for their remaining days. (Ruth 4).
God provides! Apply: In those moments where life is hard, do you look to see God’s provision? What hardships do you need to re-examine to see God caring and providing even when you are in a valley of life? Return to the story of Ruth and be reminded of how God provided even in what may have seem to be the direst of circumstances. As for our family, we are headed camping again tomorrow because we know God provides.
Britt Snyder is a lover of Jesus and wife to Greg. Her days are filled loving on and chasing around their three little ones: Lynette, Audrey and Wade. As a former elementary school teacher and now stay at home mama she enjoys serving as a kindergarten homeschool co-op teacher and leader at GCC’s Mornings for Moms ministry. Coffee and books fill the moments where all three kids are miraculously sleeping at the same time.