Living With A Longing

Hey friend, do you live with a longing for something that hasn’t happened yet or for a situation to change? Do you hope, pray, believe, ask God, gain wisdom from others, and ask good questions with the preparation and faith to receive the blessing you’re praying for?

Friend, I stand in that same boat with you. I’m weathering that storm too. I’m asking the same questions, most likely crying the same tears, persevering with the same grit, and trying my hardest to trust God every day just like you.

As simple as it sounds, the words “don’t lose hope” can never be spoken enough.

Recently God has been repeating a message in my heart that I received after reading Ruth chapter 2.

“Walk in hope”

At the start of Ruth 2, Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi have just lost people dear to them. Ruth lost her husband and brother-in-law, and Naomi lost both of her sons… Devastating heartbreak has led them to leave the city of Moab and return to Naomi’s homeland of Bethlehem. Now, Ruth has not only lost her husband, but now she’s moving to a new city, a new culture, a whole new land. She is a foreigner.

These two women have nothing. No sons to help carry on the family name. No men to help provide basic needs for them, and from the way things are looking no hope of a bright future. Naomi is even telling others to not call her by her name Naomi, but to call her Mara, which means “bitter.” (Ruth 1:20)

Have you ever walked through a similar situation? Maybe you’re walking in a place of relentless heartache, struggle, pain, confusion, and no signs ahead of a better future. At this moment Ruth and Naomi had no clue what the next few days would hold either. They had no clue why God was writing their stories this way. They had no idea how God would provide for them or come through for them.

But, look closely at Ruth’s reaction. You see the pain this woman is carrying. You see the storm within her story she is walking through. You see the responsibility she now has to carry because it’s up to her to talk care of her Mother-in-law. You can imagine the questions going through her mind and the battle her heart must have been having between pain and courage, yet her response is this…

“Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor. And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter’” (Ruth 2:1-2)

“In whose sight I shall find favor.”

Woah… excuse me? I’m sorry… what?

This woman, after everything she had gone through somehow had the courage to believe and have hope that this Boaz, a man she has never met, will give her favor as she goes and picks food in his field.

This woman walked in hope. She was speaking and declaring hope over their situation as she got ready to go find food.

Friends, we need to speak hope over our situations too. We don’t just have hope, we know Hope. We knew The Hope. The source of hope, the person of hope, and that hope can carry a heavy burned heart that is broken, shattered, disappointed, down and just waiting for a brighter future up ahead.

God is showing me, that I as His daughter, am free to come to Him and ask. I’m free to bring my requests to Him, ask Him, pray for my desires, and pray for my circumstances to change, but here’s the kicker… Too often I’ve put my hope in my circumstances changing instead of putting my hope in the goodness of Jesus and what He thinks is best for me.

This is a big difference.

Yes, I’m hoping God will fulfill my longings and provide what I’m praying for, but ultimately I’m putting my hope in His goodness, His love for me, and His sovereignty over my life.

That is a hope that cannot be shaken.

Circumstances can shift, and life flip-flops, one day is good news, one day is bad news, but the hope in the character of God and His love for you and me and the truth of His word is something that will so beautifully, eloquently, and amazingly NEVER change.

The days are long and I know it gets tough to keep holding on, but friends keep holding on. Don’t lose hope. Keep walking in hope. God sees you, knows you, and hears each prayer you pray. God and I are cheering you on. You're gonna make it.

Love,

Lo