How can we trust God's timing in our lives like Ruth did? Ruth 4:13 in Focus “So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he had relations with her. The LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.” Seeing God’s Sovereign Hand • Ruth’s ordinary obedience—gleaning, honoring Naomi, waiting for Boaz—placed her right where God’s perfect timing could unfold. • The LORD Himself “enabled her to conceive”; no detail is random, every outcome is directed (cf. Psalm 115:3). • The son born that day became Obed, grandfather of David, ancestor of Messiah (Ruth 4:17; Matthew 1:5–6). Why We Can Trust God’s Timing • He weaves all things for good for those who love Him (Romans 8:28). • “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15) assures us His schedule is wiser than ours. • He is never slow but patient and purposeful (2 Peter 3:9). • “When the fullness of time came, God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4); if heaven timed redemption perfectly, it can time our daily lives. Lessons from Ruth’s Journey 1. Faith expresses itself in steady obedience. – Ruth gleaned faithfully (Ruth 2:2–3). – Principle: do today’s task, leaving tomorrow’s outcome to God. 2. Submission invites provision. – Ruth placed herself under Boaz’s cloak (Ruth 3:9). – Principle: align with God-ordained authority and trust His covering. 3. Patience precedes fruitfulness. – Months passed between Ruth 1 and 4; God was never late. – Principle: delays refine character (James 1:3–4). 4. Providence redeems pain. – Famine and widowhood led Ruth to Bethlehem, not despair (Genesis 50:20). – Principle: hardship can be the highway to blessing. Practical Steps for Us • Meditate on Scripture daily; it resets our clocks to God’s timetable. • Record answered prayers; past faithfulness fuels present trust. • Serve others while waiting; Ruth served Naomi and met Boaz in the field. • Speak faith, not frustration; declare verses like Ecclesiastes 3:1 over your situation. • Stay connected to God’s people; Ruth’s story unfolded within covenant community. Celebrating the Outcome Ruth moved from foreigner to family, from emptiness to legacy, because she rested in God’s timing. He still writes such stories—when we walk by faith, His clock is always right on time. |
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