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1 " Hard times are purposeful, meant to refine and redirect us. They're not arbitrary or random, and they're definitely not cruel. "
― Liz Curtis Higgs , The Girl's Still Got It
2 " While we’re obsessed with here and now, God is focused on forever. "
3 " As the sun moves higher in the cloudless sky, all the verses regarding seedtime and harvest come to mind, especially this one, which suits our hard-working Ruth: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”26 "
4 " It’s not her ability to give birth—whether one son or seven—that has earned their respect. It’s Ruth’s love for Naomi. This translation gets to the heart of it: “she loves you more than seven sons of your own would love you” (CEV). These women know hesed when they see it. They recognize loyalty and compassion and loving-kindness. They’re applauding Ruth for her deep commitment to Naomi, her lengthy trek from Moab, her weeks of gleaning, her willingness to marry an older man, her eagerness to bear an heir for Naomi’s family, her hours of labor to bring this redeemer into the world, and, above all, her faith in the God of Israel. Those are seven solid reasons; we could probably come up with seventy more. "
5 " Whenever we have trouble loving one another, it’s usually because we’ve forgotten how much God loves us. If we go back to the Source, if we fill our hearts and minds with his Word, then his loving-kindness will naturally—no, supernaturally—pour out of us and into the lives of others. As his Word assures us, “If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”35 Love the Lord, love one another. That’s how Ruth walked out her faith. "
6 " That’s what suffering does; it grinds away our pride and self-sufficiency. It also prepares our hearts for the blessings to come. As author Linda Hollies wrote, “When we are down to almost nothing, God is up to something bigger than we can ever imagine.”36 Amen, sister. "
7 " The tricky part for me is remembering to give God all the glory and keep none for myself. That’s why “we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”8 Boaz took no credit for his kindness, nor did Ruth. Even Naomi, who at first blessed the landowner, praised God when she learned the man’s name. We can follow her fine example, giving God the credit for “every good and perfect gift.”9 "
