This weekend, I rolled down my window at a red light and tried to speak God’s kindness to a homeless pregnant woman who was panhandling for money. I felt the crushing pain of her desperation in her bitter response.
I can’t stop thinking about her. As I offered her hope and healing in Jesus, she turned away in disgust.
Her deliverance is just one prayer away, but she is not ready to surrender.
Bible historians will tell you that a widow in Ruth’s day was in a very dangerous position and basically considered a homeless person.
A widow was a forlorn, defenseless little bird with no nest.
However, Ruth chose to sing a different tune. She looked to Jehovah God for her sustenance. Her resilient faith did not sway as she worked in the hot sun while every person in town watched her sweating out her new-found faith.
She never shook her fist at God. She never hid away from the world and sulked. Ruth perched her hopes on God’s faithfulness and never looked back.
If you are in dire circumstances right now, your Defender is near. He longs to shelter you under His wings.
You are never alone and unprotected, my sister. Like David in the Psalms, we can cry out to God: “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in You my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by” (Psalm 57:1).
During desperate times, we must remember that we have a Deliverer and determine to…
- Plug into His power through prayer and Bible study.
- Trust in His timing, rather than try to take control.
- Resolve to stay close by His side and not stray.
- Rest in hope because He is faithful and true.
Our tenderhearted Heavenly Father longs to nurture and nourish us. He knows that we are helpless, hungry, and desperately seeking hope today. He wants to hide us under His wings and restore us.
The hymn writer W.O Cushing wrote a beautiful hymn to describe how God overshadows us with His love:
Under His Wings
Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.
Refrain
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.
Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.
Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I am safe evermore.
Under the wings of your Savior, you are safe and secure even during the fiercest storm. Nuzzle up close to Him today and let His sheltering grace strengthen you.
Keeping the Faith,
Lyli
Lyli Dunbar enjoys karaoke in the car with her husband, digging into Bible study with the girls, and reading 12 books at a time. A writer, speaker, and mentor, her burning passion is to know Jesus and to make Him known. Join her at lylidunbar.com to find fuel for a wildfire faith. You may also connect with Lyli on Facebook, Instagram,Twitter, You Tube and Pinterest.
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I am so loving this study! Verse by verse through this book. I am in a season of doing the everyday work and wondering what God is up to. Reading through Ruth reminds me tha5 sometime He is at work just beyond where I can see or hear. But He is at work and will reveal His plan when His timing is right. I just have to keep focused on the task at hand.
Lacey,
So glad you are with us today and enjoying this study! God goes before us and His plan always shows itself in His time. Be patient, keep doing the work, and He will reveal it to you. God Bless!
This is my first bible study and I’m really glad to be starting with the book of Ruth! I try to glean what I can through the readings, but it is extremely helpful to have these blog posts to refer to and gain a bit more understanding and to read different perspectives, so thank you for this blog! 🙂
Mandy,
Welcome! We are so glad God brought you here. This is a wonderful book for your first Bible Study. Be sure to check out our blog posts and videos on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Enjoy the rest of the study and God Bless You!
I know this is a book on Ruth but I’m being draw to Boaz. His true relationship with the Lord is inspiring. Oh, to trust God like this…is there a reason to be drawn to Boaz? Maybe I need to trust God better, love better, show mercy more. Only God knows the providence of this study and what will be seen through Ruth. Maybe, you should read Ruth with me and will see something different. Try it, pick up your bible that may have dust on it. Read with me, and tell me what God is pointing out to you.
I think the integrity the Boaz displayed is so rare these days. Boaz is like Jesus — that is why we are so attracted to him. 🙂
I love Ruth and how we put our faith to work. We give into fear too often. Sometimes we need to get out of the car and really be there for someone and sometimes just being obedient and listening to Him is enough.
You are so right, Bobbi. We must have bold and courageous faith so that we don’t miss out on the greater blessing God has for us when we obey.
What a beautiful and perfect blog post! Thank you so much Lyli for sharing this with us today. It really blessed me!…Well actually I am reading this a day late but thats ok, I have been blessed by this.
Better late than never, friend! I am so glad this encouraged you. And can I be honest, I really needed to read this verse this week, too. Studying Ruth has encouraged me to keep at it — even when it’s hard. God’s got us covered today and every day. I’m holding on to that sweet promise through the storm.
694902 122884Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive learn anything like this before. So nice to discover any person with some authentic thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that is wanted on the internet, someone with a bit bit originality. useful job for bringing something new towards the web! 645194
I have a hard time being in big groups because of my depression so going to a bible study would be hard for me.This is a perfect way for me to study gods word and not be overwhelmed! Praising Our Lord for this!
Anita,
I’m sorry to hear of your depression but I am so glad that you are able to participate in this way. Praising God with you sister. God bless.
I loved reading the blog & am enjoying the study of Ruth (which happens to be my favorite book in the Bible). I’m a couple of days behind but plan on catching up this weekend. Thank you again for this study.
I’m really enjoying the study it has prompted me to read other books on Ruth i.e. The Ruth Anointing which I downloaded to my Kindle. What an ambassador for GOD and a pioneer Ruth was leading the way to be a historical figure in the lineage of our SAVIOR. Praise GOD.
Im coming in on an older study and Im soooo encouraged by it! Im binge reading it. You know how binge watching tv is a thing. Lol. But seriously I cant get enough of your perspective of this book. God is really ministering to my need right now!
God richly bless your ministry!
Psalm 139