Heroes of Hope: Sunday

Sunday February 21, 2021

Created by Jaime Ulrich

Ruth 1:16 (NIV)

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.

Devotion

I find that one of the most difficult times to be hopeful is when experiencing grief or loss. In the moments when we encounter the tragedies of this world, we feel hopeless. We ask ourselves, “How can life ever return to normal after this? Will things ever get better?”

One biblical character who could certainly relate to this is Naomi. During a period of famine, Naomi lost her husband and her two sons. In Israelite society, becoming a widow meant certain hardship for a woman. Without her husband or sons, Naomi likely felt hopeless.

Yet, Naomi had her daughter-in-law, Ruth, and her faith in God. Despite Naomi telling Ruth she could leave, Ruth promised to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi always. Ruth told her: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God.” In this display of loyalty, Ruth commits herself to Naomi and to God. Ruth’s promise to Naomi indicates the hope she has in her mother-in-law and their shared future together, knowing God will be with them. They are able to find hope within each other and in God. Despite being caught up in the midst of a patriarchal society, Ruth and Naomi were able to find comfort — and hope — in their companionship with one another. In this way, Naomi and Ruth are true heroes of hope. May we all seek relationships of hope, like the one between Ruth and Naomi.

Prayer

Good and gracious God, help us to find hope in this weary season. Amen.