In yesterday’s sermon I shared how suffering is the great equalizer in humanity. No one is immune from grief, loss, disappointment, or uncertainty. As we have seen, Naomi and Ruth knew this pain well. They arrived in Bethlehem as widows with no clear means of support. Naomi even said of herself, call me bitter. If you have tasted suffering, loss and grief, you can probably identify with this emotion.
However, in our suffering, the Triune God shows mercy, kindness, and grace when we need it most.
Ruth a foreign woman, found herself in a tough situation. Do I remain in this bitter place with Naomi or do I move forward? What she did not know was that God had already gone before her. As she went to work in the fields to gather food for her and Naomi. She “happened” to enter the field of Boaz, a close relative of Naomi. But with God, what looks accidental is often providential. The provision of God was closer than Ruth and Naomi realized.
In this story, Boaz becomes a picture of kindness, protection, and redemption. Like the Lord God, extends mercy when she needs it the most. Boaz notices Ruth, provides for her, protects her, and welcomes her to come near. Ruth is overwhelmed by this grace and asks, “Why have I found favor with you, so that you notice me, although I am a foreigner?” Her question is one many of us feel in suffering: Why would God be kind to me? Why would God take notice of me?
We must remember, God’s grace is not given because we deserve it. Grace is favor bestowed on those who cannot earn it. In Christ, we are not forgotten, rejected, or abandoned. We are welcomed in. We are covered by mercy. We are invited to take refuge under the wings of the Lord.
Naomi’s hope begins to awaken when she hears that Ruth has been in Boaz’s field. She says, “May the LORD bless him because he has not abandoned his kindness to the living or the dead.” What Naomi begins to see is that God has not stopped working. Even in loss, God’s kindness remained.
Suffering may cloud our vision, but it does not cancel God’s care. Pain may make us feel forgotten, but God has not abandoned His kindness. He is near to the brokenhearted. He provides in unexpected ways. He comforts us in the middle of sorrow. And ultimately, He points us to Jesus, our true Redeemer, who suffered for us and became the source of eternal salvation.
So, when you are overwhelmed by suffering, remember this: you may not know all God is doing, but you can trust who He is. His provision may be closer than you think. His grace is still sufficient. His mercy is still active. His kindness has not run out.
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