by Emily Green Davis
As I opened my Bible in preparation to lead my women’s small group, I was not ready for what the Lord would reveal to me. I had decided to walk through the book of Ruth since I hadn’t studied this book in a few years. It’s always amazing to me how alive the Word of God truly is and how God has a divine appointment for each and every person as we read the stories breathed by Him Himself.
As I walked through the “Fields of Grace” study by DGC, God convicted me of struggling with a “Naomi heart” at times. Never once did I realize the depths of Naomi’s anguish in studying this story; I always focused on Ruth and God’s faithfulness. Now before I go any further, let me fully acknowledge that Naomi went through A LOT. Naomi moved to a foreign land with pagan gods, lost her husband, lost her two sons, and did not have a man around her to take care of her. Naomi was walking through a mental and physical valley, but God was still working. He is still good even in the valley.
“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has
made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why
call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon
me.” So, Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-
law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning. (Ruth 1:20-22)
At the end of chapter one, we read about Naomi and Ruth entering the town of Bethlehem and as old friends see her, they welcome her but Naomi immediately goes into bitterness. She doesn’t even acknowledge the blessing that:
Ruth chose to stay with her despite leaving her family, homeland, and all that she knew.
God kept Ruth AND Naomi safe through their travels and back to Naomi’s homeland.
So often, this is the case in my own life. I tend to miss what is right in front of me. I miss the big and small blessings that God has placed in my life because I am too busy focusing on the way His plan doesn’t look how I thought it should. Naomi suffered great loss, but she also missed the great gift in front of her: God never leaving her side by placing Ruth in her life. Ruth helped show Naomi Christ. So often we miss the very miracle of our body working how it is supposed to so we are able to function. Or we miss the miracle of the sunrise and sunset. Sometimes I miss seeing how God is moving in my life with an answered prayer from two seasons ago. God is always moving and doing. We just focus on the physical right in front of us so that we can miss the spiritual healing that is taking place.
We later find out that Naomi magnifies triumph and joy but it’s after God brings the physical gift into her life of her grandson. I pray that as I walk through this life, I don’t only magnify the joy God has placed deep into my heart when the physical blessing is present but when I notice the not so evident blessing all around me. I pray that I don’t miss what is right in front of me.
About the author: Emily Davis is a wife and mom before anything. She is married to Brandon Davis of four years and has two kiddos, Mahoney Nicole (Mo) and Warren. She works as a dyslexia tutor while owning her own photography business. She enjoys reading, gardening, and having people gather in her home. She serves as the youth pastor at her church alongside Brandon, leads a women's small group. and speaks occasionally. She thrives off coffee and quality time with those she loves. She worships unashamed and is proud to serve her Father. She recently started her own ministry, Through the Seasons, with devotionals to view and a podcast.
To see more of Emily's work, follow her on her social media pages.
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