“So she set out and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelich.” – Ruth 2:3
If you came into this study expecting only a love story, you know by now that the story of Ruth goes far deeper than that.
Oh yes, it’s one of the most moving, humbling love stories ever told.
Our readings in chapter 2 this week will touch your hearts and make you fall in love with the beautiful, provisional exchange between Ruth and the beyond merciful man of God named Boaz. This week, I’ve prayed that God would help me raise boys to become men like Boaz. I long for my daughter to one day marry a man with his character. The way this wealthy man treats his workers and then Ruth demonstrates a genuine life lived for God and others. Boaz is the much needed positive shift in this story that was initiated by the deepest suffering.
You’ll also fall in love with Ruth, who is a model of grace, humility, tremendous work ethic, resourcefulness, and selflessness. You’ll be motivated by her strength and inspired by her undaunted attitude. She’ll remind you of the Proverbs 31 woman in so many ways, and you might even want to put your hands to work for God with renewed commitment and fervor after reflecting on her life this week.
Maybe you identify best with Naomi, who ended chapter 1 in hopeless and bitterness, but who now is beginning to see the mercy of God break through in her life after a long period of darkness. Her return to Bethlehem not only signified a return to her people, but also a return to her God. If you’ve been in a season of darkness that has left you far from God, I pray that your heart will be softened as you watch Naomi’s transformation this week.
But oh, more than anything, please don’t miss our great God in the details.
It’s not a coincidence that Naomi returned to the Lord.
It’s God who has not forsaken the living or the dead (Ruth 2:20; Hebrews 13:5).
It’s not a coincidence that Ruth “happened to come” to a certain field.
It’s God who placed Ruth in Boaz’s field (Ruth 2:12; Proverbs 16:9).
It’s not a coincidence that Boaz had leftover harvest to glean in his fields.
It’s God who has a heart for the poor and the widow (Leviticus 19:9-10; James 1:27).
As we study Ruth’s story this week, God’s intention isn’t for us to simply focus on admirable human strength, resilience, or effort. Throughout Scripture, He longs for us to see Him as the sovereign God who goes before us.
“A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?” – Proverbs 20:24
Now it’s your turn. Where have you seen God go before YOU?
Seek Him in your suffering, don’t miss His whisperings in the waiting, and look for His provision as you unpack His faithfulness in each new day.
And then don’t forget to speak of His glory and goodness to those He has sovereignly put in your path! [In this week’s video, my friend Cara joins me and does just that as she shares how God provided for her as a young widow. You won’t want to miss it!]
Week 2 Challenge: Let’s rejoice together in the ways that God has sovereignly gone before us in the details of our lives! Share one example of God’s provision in your life in today’s blog comments and/or in your groups.
At His feet,
Week 2 Video:
Week 2 Reading Plan:
Week 2 Memory Verse:
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God provided me perspective yesterday -perspective amidst serious challenge as a parent and a child of God. He has carried through that perspective this morning as I am feeling overwhelmed by workload and disarray in my home. This morning, like yesterday, He is reminding me of all that I do not know of going on, of all that I am a part of that I am not aware, and all that I can rely on that i cannot see. Everything will come together as He wills and my job is to keep my heart, soul, mind, and spirit focused on who He is-my faithful, almighty, gracious, merciful redeemer father and Savior!
Sarah thank you for sharing! Your spirit and words are beautiful and hopeful and full of faith. Father, I pray that you help Sarah with all she has going on in her life. Faithful God, guide her and help her carry the heavy load that we sometimes are asked to carry. Love her and her family and help guide her on the path you have made for her. In your name I pray . Amen.
Mondee~LGG Encourager
I am in a period of darkness; with angry voices surrounding my every waking moment-all of which will culminate in an organized protest tonight. I serve on a school board and I have received over 250 emails in the last 10 days from parents, teachers, even fellow board members -right now, even people who disagree on everything and don’t particularly like each other are united in their disdain for us. Sara’s word are EXACTLY what I needed to hear!! I am choosing her words as my challenge for this week: My job this week is to keep my heart, my soul, my mind and my spirit-all focused on God. Trusting that everything is part of his will for my life (even this!) and he is leading me through this time. Follow him.
When I was 18, I broke up with my high school boyfriend of 2.5 years, B. I had loved him and served with him and worshiped with him but I was scared of what would happen when I went to college and we were distanced. I was also scared because I had watched my parents struggle in their marriage over the past year. This was a horribly difficult time for both B and I and we went our separate ways and didn’t speak again. That same summer I met a man I would end up marrying and spending six years in an emotionally abusive relationship that left me broken. I would think about B sometimes but knew I couldn’t contact him out of respect for my husband and that it would make it hard for both of us to have contact. When I left my husband last year and we got a divorce, I tried every day to not be bitter towards him or marriage. I prayed and trusted that God would heal my heart, towards my ex-husband and totally. In His timing, I felt I could reach out to B. We’ve been together for almost 9 months now and each day feels like those six years never separated us. But I know that if we hadn’t followed God’s plan and his timing for us, we would not be able to have the relationship we do today. My suffering, and the times he suffered, for six years was hard but God is good and he has blessed me now with the man I am supposed to be with on earth. He went before us and gave us this time.
What a blessing that you can see God’s hand at work in your life, may you always be able to feel his presence as you come and go through the daily routines. May your relationship be all that God and ants fir the two of you Thank you so much for sharing your story and may it continue to show themercyes if God are never ending.
About four and a half years ago, my husband and I found ourselves in a really tough season of life and going through a scary time of transition. My husband had found stable work harder to obtain, and we weren’t able to maintain our living arrangements. And then we found out that we were expecting! So we threw in the towel and thought that we would try to relocate for better opportunities, but that didn’t pan out either. For several months we were living off of the kindness of friends and family and just wondering what was to become of our lives. Things looked dreary, but soon, my husband got a great job and we found ourselves a little house to rent, and we began to begin again.
It was in that little house where our oldest son made friends in the neighborhood who got him going RA’s on Wednesday nights at the local church. Also at that time, our daughter was born, but it seemed like my marriage was crumbling all around me. Although things were better, they were also worse at the same time. Separation was very much on my mind, life in general wasn’t very enjoyable for us at all, and I was reaching my breaking point and the end of myself.
One Saturday evening, my son asked me if I would take him to church that next morning and I agreed. That Sunday morning was the beginning of the rest of my life. I had been raised in church and baptized at 8 or 9, but had strayed very, very far from God. In my young adult years, I hated God, blamed God, and wanted nothing to do with God. I didn’t even go to church that Sunday looking to find God; I went for my son. But God….! God encountered me over and over again, until I finally let go and He carried me up the aisle where I surrendered my life back over to Him.
Three years later, I still attend that church. My husband and I are still married and much better now than we have ever been. I have a faith that I never thought possible and a church family that I could never have dreamed up for myself. Our lives have not been without tragedy; that same son who asked me to take him to church, made a horrible decision one evening, and because of it has been in a correctional facility for over a year now. Without my faith in God, and the support of God’s people all around me, and a grounded marriage, I don’t know that I could have survived that.
Currently we are looking for our first home to buy and I find myself being anxious, fearful, and impatient in the waiting. But this morning’s study and challenge caused me to look back at this overview of our lives and remember how God has previously gone before us for our good. He intricately weaved the little details of our lives to prepare us for the things that would come in the future and He is doing that all the time. He used that house and that location to change our lives for good and He is going to do the same thing with the next one. I must trust in that and lean on the knowing that only He knows the right location and the right timing. How then can I understand the way? I must learn to wait and be content in the blindness and not let myself try to take hold of the wheel; rather trust, buckle up in faith, and just ride. This can be fun if I will just let it be. This is the adventure of God and I should allow myself to have fun, be excited, be whimsical. Our next chapter is on its way, I just need to let loose of myself and surf the edge of the page as it is turning!
Oh Kira!!! Your testimony is a sermon for me. Oh I needed to hear this today
This is awesome. How God moves when we think He is not aware of us. And brings us safely unhurt. Praise be to God. Am about to move to another chapter of my life and I’ve been struggling but like you, am going to let loose and surf the edges of the pages as it turns. Bless you darling for sharing. God is with you and your family. Amen.
It’s been 10 years since my husband unexpectedly went to be with the Lord. I felt deep guilt for not realizing his remarks about feeling more fatigued than he could ever remember, were actually signs his heart was closing down. He went to bed early that night and never woke up. The “what ifs” took over my life. Praise God He gave me discernment to run to His word! I devoured Psalms, receiving His peace and comfort. He provided family and friends to walk beside me as my life adjusted to widowhood. Through the ups and downs, He was a faithful provider showering me with His strength, not mine. Yes, it was then I learned to do what I could but to let God do what I couldn’t.
I then began to have opportunities to speak at church groups about the grief journey and to form a widows support group which meets to this day. We not only bless one another, we draw new grievers to the love of God and friends. We have seen so many receive the blessings of new husbands and fresh new lives!
God is so good. I would have loved to have that opportunity, but God had different plans, so I remain a widow fully dependent on His grace and mercy to walk beside Him here on earth until our glorious meeting in our eternal home.
Darling!!!! Ain’t you an encouragement to others out there! Am so touched by your story especially where you said allowing God to do what we can’t. So many people need to hear this message. Bless you dear Claudia for sharing. You are indeed a blessing to all around you even me. Much love.
I, too, lost my husband unexpectedly to a condition with his heart. Thank you for your story and thank you for sharing.
Thank you for sharing your story of grief and redemption. I, also, became a widow at a young age of 33. God has gone before me every step of the way.
Dear Dawn we ate for what God is doing. Continue to rest in Him. Much love dear.
Hey ladies! I first want to say thank you so incredibly much for being such a reliable and supporting group of amazing women. This devotional has helped me just keep the slightest hold on to God that I know wouldve slipped away in the dark times if i hadnt continued to open and read this in the mornings.
When I was 19 and my husband was 20, we were expecting and around 3 months we started having complications with the pregnancy, but with every ER visit our little one seemed like he was doing fine. We were all praying and pleading with God that He would keep our baby safe but at around 17 weeks our boy was born strait into jesus arms.. I had never felt so much hurt and pain in my entire life, my heart physically hurt and all I could do was cry for days… but in the midst of all the pain and sorrow I could feel God’s hand on us, holding us and comforting us. And I have peace knowing that God’s plan is so much bigger than our understanding, He has our little boy in His arms, and he is in our forever home.
Lovely Sara thank you so much for sharing your story. We thank God we are part of God’s dealings in your life. Please continue in God. His hands will always hold you and your husband. We love you dear. God bless you and keep you.
At age 18 I had surgery to remove an ovarian cyst that was the size of an orange. Due to the size, a horn was ruptured and became unusable. Since the surgery the doctors told me that they could not have children easily. It took me a long time to get married and my fear of not having children increased. Doctors warned me that not having the tube and being close to 40 years of age would certainly have to get treatment to get pregnant. Anyway, I got married and soon after my husband had surgery to remove a malignant bladder tumor that we discovered on the eve of the wedding. In addition, we found that your urethral canal had problems and impaired fertility. The surgery was done, the cancer had not taken root and no other treatment was necessary. The urethral canal was redone. It was a long wait, many frustrations. I went to several medical specialists and there was a time (in May 2011) that I talked to God and gave up. In August 2011 I discovered that I was pregnant. I did not believe because I had not taken any treatment. I saw God’s action in this situation. Before us, He went ahead, removed all obstacles, delivered my husband from a terrible disease, with our anguish and suffering fortresses as a couple and, finally, we received our gift. Today, Sofia is 5 years old and healthy, happy and our family is totally in the hands of the Lord. I think about having another baby and I know that the Lord is already ahead of me, “preparing the ground”.
God bless everyone
PS. sorry if you have errors, I used google translate
Wow!!!!! Praise the name of the Lord. Jesus!!! This can only be God. God is so faithful. This is awesome. Congratulations honey. Am so happy to read this. All who read this will praise God. God be with you and your family. Amen.
I’m loving the study of Ruth..
I’ve been praying for a women’s study group and there are not any near me. I’ve even debated on starting one..I use the Bible app YouVersion. I started a 26 day study on Ruth just days before I found this blog.. I love the story of Ruth. On the introduction page to the study on youversion I saw it was provided by Love God Greatly and visited the site. The bible study was starting in a couple days..I found that there was a study on Ruth via Facebook. I joined and loving it! God went ahead of me..He had bigger plans and led me here!
Thank you!
Sherry honey Yayyyyyyyy!!! Praise God for going ahead of you. His mercies are new every morning. Praise be to Him alone. May you continue to grow in His wisdom and in favor with both God and man. Amen.
Thank you! Everyday of this study has been a blessing!
Hi! Thank you so much ladies for sharing how God has been working through your lives- I really needed this right now. Our youngest son, Jeremy, 22yrs old, has been working in ministry with university students & slipped morally. His church elders are discipling him at the moment but are showing no grace, kindness or compassion to him. He is sorry for sinning, but is now so confused, hurt & alone – but for God. You ladies have just encouraged me to leave this with God, cos he has this, & he has a plan for my son that will just be the best for him. Thank you.
OH my!! Bless his heart! We all sin, big or small! I’m so upset that these people are not giving him support. Thats what God wants us to do, forgive and help that person! You will not believe this! But I am doing another study, actually the Ruth one and then the one I’m also telling you about. The are both on you vision Bible app.. The devotional today ask that we pray for someone working in the ministry that is new to it!! It said pick someone in your path. I thought to myself I knew NO ONE in this situation..ironicly this you vision app is leading me to bigger things.., God went before me! Again! I finished reading the scripture for that devotional and immediately got on here! Then I read your comment! He put your son in my path through this study! God is speaking directly to me throughThis study on Ruth…I found LGG from that same app…I will be praying for him!! God does have a plan and already going ahead of this young man..God bless
Darling. You have my mother’s name. Your son is hidden in God’s hands. And God will take care of him. God sees and knows what to do. Jesus, please uphold this young man. Let him not run from You, but run to You. Amen.
We go to a large church that has many pastors and mine is one of them. Long story short of many details…We did college ministry for 12 years and some things changed and were put into a different role that I could not believe that this was God’s plan for us… Of course we obeyed and asked God to direct us and heal our hearts. We went from serving college age to a very busy job of care ministry… food pantry, benevolence, hospitals and senior adults. Talk about a big change. I would have never guessed how God wanted to use me. I now work in a Pregnancy Resource Center and talk to young women all of the time. I get to share Jesus with the lost almost everyday and see lives change. I thought God was taking away from me something that I loved so much and gave me a different avenue that Is honestly the most rewarding ministry I have ever been a part of. His ways are so much greater than mine. I so love Him!
Oh dear! I could imagine how you felt at first. But our God orders our steps, and He never leads wrong. Great testimony. Bless you for sharing and I pray for more of His presence as you serve Him. Amen.
This is my first on line Bible study, I just happened to find it on Monday just in time to start. I know it was God that lead me there. My fiancé died on Thursday we have been together for 5 years and living together for 4. He had a lot of medical issues but his death was very sudden. I am still in shock but am finding comfort in this study and our church.
Wow. This is heartbreaking! God knows exactly what we need. So thankful you have joined this study. He takes yucky hard heart wrenching stuff and makes us new! Praying for renewal for you and to lean into HIM! Praying for you right now!
Oh Aimee! Am so sorry about your loss. Am happy you Adele finding comfort in God’s word. Because that’s the only place of comfort we have. Just continue in God, He got this! Much love.
God is everywhere, even when he feels far away, he never leaves our side. I’ve been dealing with some health issues that finally lead me to stop breastfeeding, which was a very hard decision and something I didn’t want to stop but I wasn’t able to take care of myself much less 2 little ones and my husband and work etc and god told me it was time, I was a good mom and that everything would be ok. I quit cold turkey yesterday and although a very painful process, I have surprising been ok- god provided a beautiful sunny day, great church service, a first laugh from my 4 month old daughter, a massage to ease all the tension in my body and continues to heal me. He’s amazing, no matter how small or big, if we slow down he’s all around and making beautiful things happen, nothing is coincidence… miracles happen everyday. Praying for all you ladies dealing with heavy loss and for healing. Love you all!!
I am the mother of four boys. My husband and I own the house he grew up in. Last week there was flooding in our area like I’ve never seen. Our rent house flooded. At 12:30 am we decided to go try to help the couple who live there. Two of our boys went ahead of us to try to help. When we arrived we were shocked to see how high the water had risen. The water was rushing down the street like a river toward a river. I quickly began to panic because the boys had driven down this road ahead of us but the Jeep wasn’t there. It was parked around the corner which initially calmed me but I quickly became fearful again when they were not in the Jeep. Other teens at this intersection stated they saw two kids walking. I decided they had walked to the house to help so I began to head that way. The current was to swift to walk. I had to go another route. They were not at the house. For several minutes I thought I lost my boys to this flood. I could see them trying to walk, falling, and being swept away. This was the most terrifying moment of my life. There was nothing I could do. I began to pray “Lord keep them safe” over and over. I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t go looking for them. It was dark and the flow of the water was too great. I couldn’t call 911. Others in the area were already calling because of another issue and there was no response because of the storms and flooding that was taking place. All I had was God. Within minutes we were able to reach them by phone and they were safe. I knew God took care of them. After reading the scripture today I see it a little different. They didn’t drive down that road. God sent them a different direction. They didn’t try t walk where it was so swift. They went another direction. God went before them and kept them safe before I had the need to cry out to him on their behalf. I am so thankful.
OH my! That was horrible! It’s so hard but sometimes we have absolutely no control and as hard as it is we have to let go and let God. We sometimes forget that no mater the situation HE has control of it! What a great testimony of God’s sovereign love! He definitely goes ahead of us and paves the way! I’m so thankful that they are safe and smart to follow Gods guidance. I’m sorry y’all have suffered in this flood but so blessed everyone is safe..I pray that the clean up goes well..God bless
Matthew 6:27-30 wherever you are going, God has already been there and paved the way for you…
Thank you all so much for your testimonies. It’s a blessing to read through such encouragement.
In 2008 my husband and I decided to try for another baby. We had 2 boys and couldn’t wait for another. But months later I still wasn’t pregnant. I found a Dr who started running tests and during that time I did get pregnant only to lose twin boys halfway through the pregnancy. Their loss was devastating and I went through 8 months of anger before finding my way back to the Lord. But our journey was far from over. Through the next 5 years I was diagnosed with pcos and we lost 2 more boys and a daughter all halfway through pregnancies. After the last loss we decided to stop trying and focus our lives on what we did have. For 2 years I rebuilt my relationship with the Lord. I learned so much about Him and myself during those years. In 2015 after everything we had been through and doctors telling us we would never get pregnant again on our own we found we were expecting. The pregnancy was scary but I felt peace that I hadn’t ever felt before and knew if the baby lived or went to be with the Lord it would be okay. The Lord blessed us with another son who is now a healthy and very active 19 month old. The Lord never left my side through all the years of heartache and He stays with me now. I’m thankful for all I’ve learned and look forward to when He calls me home not only so I can walk with Him but also so I can be with my little ones again.
After my high school boyfriend of 4 years and I decided to break up, I was heartbroken. I fell for the first guy that came along who knew what to say to win me. Problem was, it was all a lie. I married him and was abused for 3 years before he divorced me. We had a son, but this man never spent any time with him, held him only once, and deserted us. I thought marriage was a scam, that men today weren’t worth the heartache.
I went back home with my son (and back to our home church) and began a life thinking I would never marry again. 2 years later I was set up on a blind date, just for fun, not thinking anything would come of it. Well, 28 years later, we are still together, married, 3 more children and he became a priest (Episcopal). It took a long time and a lot of change in my attitude had to happen over those 28 years as I was a bitter person. I’m so blessed my husband stuck it out with me and me with him. God provided ten times more than I ever thought I deserved, protecting me and my family, providing. Oh and I now have 4 grandchildren. God is so good!
What a beautiful store Meg! I am a young single woman and your story has given me hope. Thank you so much for sharing!
God went before me today – I am not in a good place mentally, today I had an appointment with a psychiatric nurse – I didn’t want to go, it meant walking out of my front door for a start, not to mention the taxi journey, the building, new people.
But I followed God, all the way there, he was there in the taxi, he was sat waiting as I walked into reception and was there in the room I had my appointment – he’d chosen my nurse and given her the words I needed to hear.
I’m not healed but my healer is healing me as he guides me.
Rae, Thank you for sharing–“I’m not healed but my healer is healing me as he guides me.” Those are beautiful words and words that we can cling to. Isn’t it wonderful that, no matter what, He never leaves us. His plan for our lives is perfect. Thanks for your inspiration.
Like Naomi, I doubted and left God’s provision. For nearly 20 years, calamity befell me – divorce (not just once, but twice!!), constant conflict, self abuse…too many things to list in detail, but somehow, through the bitterness and anger and chaos, God whispered to me every day – and I began to hear Him! I started going back to church, and when the tsunami of shame, grief and bitterness would overpower me, Jesus would reach down and pluck me out of the sea of despair. I was surrounded by loving mothers and fathers, people who helped me rest and heal – God put all of them, old and new, in places to breathe life into me. Through family death, the divorce and subsequent 4 year litigation, failed relationships and job loss, God sustained me and provided (and still does) in ways I never expected or feel deserving of by giving me opportunities to grow in ministry, to work close to home and be available for my family, time to rest and heal and finally, marriage to a man who takes his role as a husband as seriously as I take mine as a wife-all for the glory of God.
Sadie, I could have said the exact same thing about myself! I couldn’t believe your words. I can so relate. I just had this horrible battle of feeling defeated! Even after being back in God’s word. So much regret and guilt:( but like you I kept feeling God and hearing Him call me back! I know God brought me to LGG. No doubt. I’ve starting getting answer to prayer like I’ve never seen. I’m studying the Bible and loving every minute of it! I’ve never studied like this before. I’m glad you found a good husband !! So happy for you:) I don’t have that but I’m at peace with it! With God, My kids and grandchildren my life is complete 🙂 I wish you the best! God bless
The spring of 2007 was a difficult time for me. Within a 3-month period, my husband lost his job, my dad died from cancer, and my daughter (who was a senior in college and unmarried) got pregnant. I was in a 9-month teaching position at the time in a wonderful school with faculty, staff, and students that I loved! I felt, however, that I needed to find a 12-month job that would bring in more money. I applied for a job in my school system that I thought would be perfect for me, and I felt confident that I would get the position—well, I didn’t. That door was closed shut!! I was pretty devastated. It was the first time in my life I didn’t get a job I applied for. Of course, I’m worried and distraught, but God had a perfect plan for me. Within days, another job was advertised in a neighboring county in a school system I had worked in previously. I was offered the job on the spot. It was a 12-month administrative position working with wonderful teachers and students, and it was more money. During my tenure there, my husband and I separated. He had been diagnosed with manic depression almost 30 years before and lived a life full of poor choices that I just couldn’t deal with any longer. My administrative assistant was truly a Godsend. She would pray with me and encourage me and just listen to me when I needed to talk. There is no question that God provided the job and he sent my sweet friend to walk with me through that dark time. Life has certainly changed since then. My husband and I reconciled, I have retired, and we have three precious grandchildren that I get to see very often. God has provided more than I deserve.
Great article and amazing website. Thank you for sharing with us.
I am going through a season of darkness right now as my plans for the last two years did not happen, as I did not get to graduate today with my masters degree like I thought I would. I failed student teaching and have to retake it. All of this has been really hard on me, because I want so badly to have a regular, full-time job with benefits. At 34 years old, it has proven to be very difficult continuing to be supported financially by my mom (although I am thankful for her) and also living with my sister, who I have a difficult relationship with. I also live with my niece, who is seven. It has been very hard being a graduate school living in this kind of environment although I’m thankful for my mom. This reading is a reminder that God is the one who provides. He goes before me. Now I am trying to save up money so that I can finish my masters degree, and so far he has provided me with more speech clients (Im a speech therapy assistant) and all the money I need to pay my bills. However, I did have to borrow money from my mom for a little while. I pray that he continues to pour out his provision on my life in such a way where I will see even more that he is my provider. I can also relate to Naomi and Ruth in that my father made very poor financial decisions, and died at the young age of 48. That was 2001. He left us with no will, no financial resources that would sustain us, except a Social Security check that was just for a brief time. Just like Naomi, I have wrestling with feelings of abandonment since then. But my relationship with God has been ebbing and flowing, and he is gradually and patiently showing me how he is my provider, regardless of the sins and mistakes of my father. God is my true Father. Please pray I will stop having anxiety and that I will clearly see God’s love and provision for me and that God will remove the doubt.
I am getting started on Ruth a little late but I am sure excited about this! I am grateful that I found Love God Greatly! I am new and this blog has already helped a lot! Thank You!
Started this study quite a bit late. The last two years have been rough for me. My plans and career got a major overhaul. I had to leave a country I loved because of visa issues and move to a country I’m less than enthusiastic about for a job I didn’t really like. God stuck through me during this time and changed my perspective. He made me realise that His ways are good and I cannot judge them. He broke down a lot of pride, created a spirit of humility in me, and is planting a zeal for his kingdom in me. Currently, it looks like I am going back to the country that I love to take a ministry internship in the arts. I am truly grateful he has done this and wish I could serve him in this. I hope I can be content as a single woman and have God change me to desire more of what he desires
Our 18year old son was killed January 21,2017. Our family was devastated and we are still learning how to live with the loss of our boy. But the year before he was killed, God in his sovereignty was puttin in place everything we needed. My brother and his family moved to our area for only 1 year! My oldest daughter graduated from college early. My parents came for his 18th birthday because she “felt” pressed upon to be here for that bday. My in laws spent Thanksgiving and the following week with us. In September, I attended a Women’s conference in Springfield, Missouri and felt God speak to me that Satan would be in the attack for our family and my son and to be prepared for Spiritual Warfare. Boy, was that correct. The day my son was killed and the following days, weeks and months God showed His presence in the people He brought to our side. He shows up with unexpected people and acts of kindness from strangers. God is good. Doesn’t make our journey easy but He makes it walkable. We have always said since the accident, God provides our Daily Manna just like in the Old Testament. Only good for that day BUT sometimes we have to look for it in the quiet. Daily seeking His face even when we don’t “feel” like it. I hope this brings some encouragement to whoever reads this. A phrase I read from Sheila Walsh that has stuck with me is this He didn’t call my son home but He welcomes him home. God’s plan for my son was not to have him die, that was Satan’s plan to try and tear our family apart. Away from God. But God WILL be glorified through us and through my sons death. Over 1000 people were part of my son’s Celebration of Life service. And many people accepted Jesus as their savior because of it. FYI I didn’t know we knew this many people but this is how many lives my son had touched through his loving and friendly nature. God is so good. He alone is our strength!
God bless you dear for sharing this with us. My heart is so touched by it. God bless you and continue to keep your family. Amen. Much love.
I’ve also lost my 16-month-old son, my best friend, her unborn baby and her daughter in an accident that happened in 1976. Attending back to back funerals on the same day for my son and my friend and her baby was difficult. Her daughter died a week later and according to the doctor’ there was no reason because she was doing great and recovery was a given according to man. I wasn’t as close to GOD as I am now, I was angry at GOD, was going through a divorce and was blamed by my husband for my son’s death, I felt guilty because I felt I should have been there to stop it, I felt I should have picked up my son from the baby sitter’s house myself and it wouldn’t had happened but what ifs don’t work. I held on to the grief for 12 years, I had another son 5 years old that had it not been for him I think I wouldn’t be here. I became a functioning alcoholic and slipped into a depression that lasted for a season but then GOD sent an awesome Christian woman into my life that loved me through the 12 years and then some (25 years total as sisters/friend’s) before the LORD called her home. Nothing I could have done would have saved my son and those that died. And had he lived he would have been a vegetable his skull was crushed and they were trying to reduce the swelling and as I was in the bathroom at 8:30 PM that night, 4 4 1/2 hours after the accident) I was bargaining with GOD, the nurse came in and I knew he was gone. There are no coincidences. I worked that day and dropped a co-worker off at her home and something (the HOLY SPIRIT) told me to go another way home. I did as I was led and as I was driving I saw a lot of ambulances and people standing and looking and sirens and I thought there’s an accident, when I got closer I saw a car that resembled my friend’s car and as I got enven closer I knew her license plate and knew it was her and my son and I got out the car, left my 5-year-old in the car, ran screaming “where’s my baby, where’s my baby” and I was told he was in the ambulance but his heart had stopped twice. Everyone in her car was thrown out of the car and landed on the center divider. I’m in the medical field so sometimes it’s more of a curse than a blessing because you know too much or acknowledge the usual outcomes if GOD doesn’t intervene. Two men drag racing as my friend’s car came out from a side street changed my life forever. BUT if the HOLY SPIRIT hadn’t led me to go another way home, I’d never got to say goodbye or see him one last time. A week before Christmas you don’t expect this. Two weeks before Christmas you don’t expect a life insurance salesman to call and ask you about life insurance for yourself and your kids, you don’t think kids die young so you ignore the sales pitch. And you don’t know GOD is preparing you a week or so before when you have a dream and someone says, “They will die in an accident” nor have a dream that something happens to the other son just a few weeks before and then the unthinkable happens. GOD does prepare us but back then I wasn’t as close to HIM and I even remember telling HIM I hated HIM. I was alone had no real support. Finally after 12 years I cried out to HIM and HE healed my heart. And I realized even when I turned my back on GOD and wanted nothing to do with HIM, HE was with me. Never leaving or forsaking me in spite of me. What an awesome, faithful GOD we serve. I’ve been able to testify to other women who have lost a child which is all a part of GOD’s plan.
Oh Sheila, my heart breaks over the loss of your sweet baby and your friends. The road of grief is so hard and so different for all of us, even in the same family. But your are correct that we serve an awesome, faithful God who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. It is hard to see how He is working all things for good but He does and you are evidence of how He is using you and your story to help other women walk this painful road to healing. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I am just now able to share a little more and a little more. Each day is a new day with new mercies and I am so thankful for this ?
God is providing me with a leatning experience to be patient. He us also showing my sister-in-law to me in a different light and teaching me to learn from her abundance of faith while she deals with the loss of a son.
Hello dear. What a mighty God we serve. He doesn’t abandon us. He us always there for us holding our hands through life. God bless you abundantly
Just last week God went before me in my finances. I was expecting to handle something small but he handle that and gave me plenty to have afterwards! Thank you God for always providing and supplying our needs!
Giving Back
A strange coincidence revealed as God’s providence… We refinanced our house about a year ago with the intention to do some remodeling in the house to support more peace and quiet for my husband to work from home. For some reason, we connections were delayed with the contractors and we never completed the project and the funds have been sitting there all this time. This past month my husband was fired unfairly from his job and with an international trip scheduled to visit family next month, it poses a difficult timeline to immediately interview and begin new work. We are stepping out in faith instead to give him the next month or two to devote his full energy to getting a business he’s been developing in his free time off the ground. This is a rare opportunity that has been financed by the remodel that we never completed. Who knew?! We continue to pray that God will step out before us and give us the means to provide for our family.
I’m currently working with a Christian charity in northern Iraq and really enjoying working my way through this bible study when I get the chance. In a place where so many women have been widowed in the last few years the book of Ruth and message of God’s sovereign plan is so relevant. Praying that I get to share the essence of Ruth’s story with someone this week. Thanks for a great Bible study and thanks to Cara for sharing her story 🙂
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Where i can find
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God is healing my best friend of her cancer that was once described as terminal and has extended her life expectancy of 6 weeks given by doctors to nearly 2 years!!! She is still going strong and even in the times she thought she may be preparing to face death, I never once saw fear in her face. All I saw was certainty and faith in God. I love you Clarissa and I thank God for you every day.
Fantastic website. Lots of useful information here. I’m sending
it to some friends ans also sharing in delicious.
And naturally, thank you on your effort!