What She Didn’t Know

When Naomi left Bethlehem with her husband and two sons, she was a blessed wife and mother. She returned back years later as a widow without any family except a Moabite daughter-in-law. Those who knew Naomi before were shocked at her appearance and loss. She asked them to call her “Mara,” which meant bitter. Naomi had given up hope and was done with living. Yet she didn’t know that God still had a greater plan than she could have ever imagined.

She didn’t know that Ruth would end up in Boaz’s field. She didn’t know that Boaz would notice Ruth and make sure she always had food to eat. She didn’t know that Boaz would be interested in marrying Ruth. She didn’t know that Boaz and Ruth would have a son whose descendants would include the Messiah. What she didn’t know was that God had something more in mind.

We go through our trials sometimes in the same way as Naomi but without the name change. Just because we don’t know what is going on doesn’t mean God doesn’t know. Our Father in heaven is omniscient, omnipresent, and all powerful. Absolutely nothing gets past Him, and He always has us on His mind.

If we hold on to hope in the midst of not knowing, the Lord will strengthen and encourage our hearts. He will send a word from the Bible through a preacher, a friend, or a song that will help us hold on when we want to give up. We don’t have to know the ending of each story in our lives—we just need to know the One who writes the book!