Courage for Crisis
Elizabeth Turnage, Guest Writer
TODAY’S TREASURE
Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God (Ruth 1:16, NLT).
Ruth had no good reason to follow Naomi. When Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem from Moab, she released her two daughters-in-law, telling them she had no hope to offer them. Orpah departed. Ruth remained. Why?
Ruth’s profound proclamation of commitment to Naomi gives us a clue, “your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16 NLT). Ruth was raised in Moab, where people worshiped many pagan gods. But there was something that drew her to sojourn in the land of her deceased husband’s God. She might not have known it yet, but she would know it soon: God, by his grace, had planted a seed of faith in Ruth that would grow into redemption for many people.
Ruth’s willingness to risk traveling into unfamiliar territory reminds us of the heroes of faith described in Hebrews 11. Faith bolsters courage to venture into the unknown, even, or especially, in seasons of crisis. By God’s grace, through faith, Ruth courageously moved into many unknown places:
She traveled to Bethlehem, a land she didn’t know, with a hope that wasn’t assured (Ruth 2:16).
She stooped to glean in the field of a stranger, making herself vulnerable to assault, trusting that God would provide sustenance for her and Naomi (Ruth 2:2-18).
She lay on the threshing floor of Boaz, going along with her mother-in-law’s strange plot to procure a husband. (Ruth 3:1-5).
She reached far beyond Naomi’s plan to actually propose marriage to Boaz (Ruth 3:8-9).
Make no mistake, Ruth’s actions were risky, and extremely unconventional, in her culture. Her courage came from her simple but sound faith; her faith likely came from her remembrance of redemption stories Naomi’s family had told. She trusted this redeeming God, believing he would redeem her again. And he did.
Ruth’s courage compels us to ask, “How will we face crisis and loss?” Will it be with the courage of faith? Will we keep taking steps into unknown, unfamiliar territory, trusting that the Lord Almighty is at work, orchestrating redemption and renewal? We have far more reason than Ruth to risk action. Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer was a man; our Kinsman-Redeemer is Jesus. Boaz paid a price, a sum of money, to redeem Ruth. Jesus paid a higher price, the sum of his life—death, to redeem us. Yes, we have reason to risk, the courage of faith to move into crisis with humility and hope, with love and loyalty. God, by his grace, has grown this seed of faith in us. Let us bear the fruit.
Prayer
Our Mighty God, we come to you, seeking the courage of faith that only you can give us. Strengthen us to go to unfamiliar places, to love in unfamiliar ways. Help us to trust that you are writing your love story in our lives through our Bridegroom, Jesus.
Further Encouragement
Read Ruth 1-4.
Listen to “Lead On, O King Eternal” by Sara Groves.
For Reflection
What actions do you need to take that will require the courage of faith? List two or three here, and write a date by which you will have completed them. Then ask God to give you the faith you need.
Excerpt from Recovery to Restoration: 60 Meditations for Finding Peace and Hope in Crisis, by Elizabeth Turnage; used with permission.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Elizabeth Turnage, writer, story coach, teacher, and the founder of Living Story ministries (https://www.elizabethturnage.com/). She is passionate about helping people learn, live, and love in God’s story of grace. A blogger and the author of three Bible studies published by P&R Publishing, she is a popular conference and retreat speaker. Elizabeth is married to an orthopedic surgeon, Kip Turnage, and they have four adult children, plus three added by marriage. They are also the devoted “parents” of their personal therapy dog, Rosie.
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Originally published Monday, 04 July 2022.
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