I used to believe in “good luck” – that events and opportunities in my life happened by chance and some people are just more “lucky” than others. Then in college, my roommate challenged me one day and said, “Angela, that isn’t random luck. That’s God.”
And you know what?! She was right.
I see the same conversation in our reading this week. It wasn’t luck that brought Ruth to Boaz’s field. It wasn’t luck that he just happened to arrive back to his field from Bethlehem at the same time Ruth was there. And is sure wasn’t luck that Boaz was from the clan of Elimelech and therefore a close relative to Naomi.
It wasn’t luck. It was God.
Not until college did I learn about God’s providence – how He goes before us to orchestrate events in our lives which many times we don’t even understand until years later… sometimes not until we get to heaven.
Throughout the book of Ruth, we see God’s loving hand of providence through all the details, events, and opportunities in spite of disobedience, mistakes, and sin. What I love about the book of Ruth is how God, through His amazing love, went before Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz. He crafted a beautiful story of redemption which mirrors His heart for all His children; children who at one time were like Ruth – people without hope and without a redeemer.
Maybe you’ve seen your own reflection in the pages of Ruth these last two weeks. If so, you’re in good company, sweet friend. No matter your past, God is powerful enough to redeem it.
Though Elimelech and Naomi shouldn’t have moved to Moab, God in His mercy gave Naomi her daughter-in-law, Ruth. Through Naomi, Ruth turns from her past, her gods, her culture, and cleaves to Naomi and Naomi’s God. When Naomi and Ruth need food to survive back in Bethlehem, God provides a kinsman-redeemer… Boaz. At every turn and every crisis, we witness God’s providence – not luck – providing, tending to, and caring for Naomi and Ruth.
What God did for Ruth and Naomi, He does for us too.
You may be looking at your life right now and wondering what in the world God is up to. Or you may be crying out to God, begging Him to redeem your mistakes, your journeys to foreign lands, and missed opportunities. If so, know that you are not alone. Like a prodigal son, turn back to God. When you do, you’ll see that He is running after you with open arms.
When we look at Ruth’s life and how God worked, we see that ordinary tasks like taking care of her mother-in-law or gleaning in a field actually had extraordinary results… but don’t let me get ahead of myself. For today let me end with this: God is at work in your life just like He was in Ruth’s. God is up to more than what meets the eye. There are no chance meetings, no lucky opportunities. It is God, your kinsman redeemer, who is at work in your life. That doesn’t mean that the road ahead will be easy. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be construction involved, delays, or possibly detours. What it does mean is that God is orchestrating your life for a grander purpose.
“In every loss that the godly endure God is already plotting for their gain.” – John Piper
Let’s Talk: Looking back over your life, how has God been orchestrating it for a greater good?
Love God Greatly,
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I am so enjoying this study. My husband is on staff at small church that is struggling financially right now. We don’t know what the future holds. I’m a planner and I like to be in control. This study has been calming to my soul. Even though I can’t see around the next bend God can. And He’s waiting there for me. With a solution to whatever problem I am facing. A solution that will be glory to His name.
Lacey,
Thanks for sharing that. Isn’t is amazing how God speaks right into our situation with hope from His Word? Praying for God to provide everything your church needs and give you wisdom as you walk through this season.
Hugs,
Lyli
LGG, Encourager
Over the past few years I have been working through some past sins and wondered, at first, how God could have ever allowed me to commit them and, also, how He could ever forgive me for them. Over time, I have realized that, while He detested what I was doing, He has always had a greater plan for me to use the redemption from my sin to touch others on this Earth. I have been feeling a calling for a few years to pursue a specific avenue of ministry and mission work regarding controversial issues relating to my own past and now recently another controversial avenue because of the situation that my son is in, struggling with his own identity. I truly have no idea what God is up to and what He has in store for me; I feel totally inadequate, unarmed, and ill-equipped. But I know that He equips the lowly and I feel that there is something so massive coming for my life. The fact that He continuously challenges me with these issues tells me that He is guiding me to a specific something. He is creating a new chapter for myself and my family which is going to free up my time and commitments to be more available for His plan over my life. Please pray for me; for my obedience and courage, and for God’s guidance and sovereignty as I blindly move toward His tomorrow.
Praying with you, Kira!! His love, forgiveness and power are working to do His will in and through your life as you humbly trust and follow Him.
God is so good! Over & over He shows us that no matter our diverted past He will take it & orchestrate it for our good! So grateful like Naomi for bringing us through tough times to be better for it!
Kira I so related to your post. I too have found my self wondering how I could have wandered so far from God in my past. I used to think How could He let me…. but I know today He gave me free will and I wandered. He was right there to meet me when I returned….waiting with open loving arms! Today I know without a doubt He had such an amazing plan for me. The true love and forgiveness is more than words can describe! Kira please know God is using you if for no one else today…. I needed your post. Your encouragement your hope your strength. Today I can see where God has gone before me in the past and has paved an amazing way back to Him. He has blessed me with so many wonderful people who Love me for me and see me as God sees me today…all my flaws all my failures! And to know He and they still love me. This has been an amazing study in Ruth! I am so blessed by every reading and every SOAP. I pray to have Ruth’s faithfulness to stay out of God’s way and allow Him to work through me and in me! It continues to reveal just what I need when God knows I need it. God keeps placing people in my life that help me grow in Him~! I too thought it was by chance but today I know it is all a part of His amazing plan!!! I am so blessed by LGG minitstry! Thank you ladies for your love for Christ, your experiences, your hope and your desire to dig deeper in His word!! <3 I am blessed more than I can say!!
Lana,
Thank you for sharing a bit of your redemption story with us. Ruth’s tenacity is a challenge to us all to stick to the stuff. I know I’ve felt it this week as I’v read her story again with fresh eyes. I want to be that woman who is found faithful and fiercely His even when it’s hard. Lord help us!
Blessings to you as you keep walking in faith, my sister!
Lyli
There was a time in my life that God let me experience Him on a whole new level. It was absolutely the best experience I ever had, to see His hand move in my situation. Every time I look back on that period of my life, my heart is overwhelmed again of His love for me. Thank you for this devotion. This study of Ruth is A+!
Areum,
Thank you for joining us! I have always loved the story of Ruth and this is probably my most favorite book in the Bible. God’s timing is always right and amazing to me. Thank you for sharing with us!
I am grateful to be part of this study. Every time I read I pick up something else. I suffer with loneliness borne from losing my parents at a young age. I am sometimes bitter like Mora. But like Naomi I am never truly alone. I have a host of friends and relatives I just don’t let in for fear of loss then rejection. Praying my way through.
Adrienne,
Thank you for joining us! Thank you for sharing your fears and thoughts with us as well. Prayers that you can find get through this and that God will present you the people whom you need in your life.
How has God worked in my life? I saw this just recently. I once went to college and majored in something I absolutely love and have passion for: Music education. But, in a moment of following my flesh and not seeking God, I returned home and “randomly” picked a major in healthcare. 12 years later, we received a phone call that we had finally been chosen by a birth mother after waiting for almost 2 years. This baby had medical needs that lined up with the specialty I had been in for the last 10! God knew that baby would need me when I opened the book and chose the first program I saw.
Faith,
Oh what a beautiful story! Thank you so much for sharing with us! I always stand amazed when I see something that did not make sense to me at the time and then some time later everything falls into place. His timing is always good! So glad you received your baby!
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Hello Ladies,
When i read this week’s challenge to write about how God has gone before me in the past, i wasn’t sure i could come up with any because they are so many instances… All i can say is Thank you Lord, for always being so faithful, always being a provider and a protector at all times. Many times i doubt you because of situations, but more than ever i believe that Ordinary events and tests leads up to extraordinary grander plans.
I submit totally to your plan.. I will trust your heart for me when i cannot see your hand. Give e the grace to do this.
Amen.
I can truly see how god has worked in my life, brought my amazing husband to me .Their were people who didn’t think I should marry him but he truly is a god fearing man I have dealt with some depression and some health issues in the last few years and he has been by side the whole time.I tell people he has truly taken his marriage vows seriously where other men have not. I thank God every day for him!
How many times have I looked back on moments of my life and seen God’s hand-loving me, caring for me and having control of all the things I could not. His love surpasses all of my understanding and I am so very thankful for Him in my life.
But I don’t know why I always feel it’s all luck because few people whatever they do they will be treated well everywhere if same mistake I do I’ll treated a criminal. Most of my friends are married and living happily but whatever I do goes wrong if I talk to a boy friendly will be mistaken by others n spread the gossips finally my parents hear that n lose trust on me keep doubting and if their daughters keep roaming with a guy they say there’s none like my daughter those are all gossips but my parents for everything they’ll not even allow me to attend my friend’s marriages it’s so paining. I always made sure to be good to all obey my parents, make selfless prayers interceding for others regularly waking up at 3am but at last I have only pain. When I turn back and see life’s full of tears. I sometimes feel like marry and go away but my parents are not even ready to get me married I fear n obey my parents m still tolerating everything because I don’t wanna hurt them. The love n fear I’ve on them, they don’t have a bit trust on me they treat me as if God has ordained them to rule over me. I feel so jealous to see my friends parents being so close to them, fulfilling their needs, trusting them, understanding their feelings, being practical. Isn’t my bad luck inspire of being good, doing good, being sincere but still be doubted, humiliated by my own parents??