I finished reading Ruth yesterday and realized there’s so much to learn from her—especially in difficult seasons. Ruth was a woman who lost her husband, Mahlon, one of the two sons of Naomi, her mother-in-law. Both of Naomi’s sons died, and Naomi urged her widowed daughters-in-law to return to their families. But Ruth was determined to stay with Naomi and returned with her to Bethlehem, Naomi’s homeland. This was a risk for Ruth, as the Moabites and Israelites didn’t get along. (Ruth was from Moab.)

Ruth was loyal, selfless, and kind. She showed sacrificial and unconditional love and stayed committed to what she was called to do—while doing it with kindness.

Ruth 1:16 — “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.’”

At this point, Naomi realized no amount of convincing would make Ruth return home. Ruth wanted to stay loyal to her mother-in-law, even though both of their husbands had died and Naomi was too old to remarry or bear another son.

Ruth soon became more of a blessing in Naomi’s life as she helped Naomi get through her tragic season. Naomi was angry and felt empty after losing her husband and sons. In Ruth 1:20–21, Naomi says: “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.”

God also provided for Naomi—through Ruth. He took Naomi’s pain and turned it into beauty. Even in her bitterness, Naomi held on to faith, and in God’s perfect timing, He restored her with abundance—a family line that would eventually lead to Jesus. There is a song that I added to my playlist recently called “Turn It To Praise” by Seph Schlueter that I think describes this thought well.

When we sing about how God “turns graves into gardens” or “beauty from ashes,” we can think of Naomi’s story—a woman who lost everything but, through faith and loyalty, gained more than she could have imagined. God is always with us in the hard times.

Naomi’s pain is something many of us can relate to—not necessarily the loss of a husband or sons, but that feeling of bitterness when life breaks down and it’s hard to see the bigger picture God is painting.

Over this past year, I’ve had to constantly remind myself not to overlook the resources God has already given me to make it through hard seasons. Naomi forgot about what God had already provided—her loyal daughter-in-law, Ruth. I think it’s so important to pray during difficult times, but also to recognize the people and blessings God has already placed in front of us. After all, one thing I’ve learned this year is that blindness leads to unopened doors.

The bond between Ruth and Naomi was rooted in faith. As Ruth devoted herself to Naomi, they unknowingly walked straight into God’s plan—literally. “So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.” — Ruth 1:22

That barley harvest was where Ruth began working in the fields, where she soon met Boaz—a relative of Naomi’s former husband Elimelek. Ruth 2:2–3 says: “And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.’ Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter.’ So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.”

Little did Ruth, Naomi, or Boaz know that Ruth would marry Boaz and become the great-grandmother of King David—a descendant of Jesus Christ. At first glance, it might seem like Ruth just happened to end up in the right field. But if we look closer, we can see the beauty of God’s hand in every detail—just like He’s working behind the scenes in our own lives.

The lesson here? Sometimes God is just waiting for us to take the first obedient step—to walk through the door He’s already opened—so He can bless us with the rest. Ruth’s obedience became a true testimony of how God blesses faithfulness and this is where I learned the most from Ruth. Lately, I’ve felt a bit like her—stepping into territory, unsure of what’s next, but choosing to stay faithful anyway.

Ruth’s faith and loyalty led her to blessings she could’ve never planned. She could have turned back like her sister-in-law, but instead, she trusted God and walked through the doors He prepared for her. Boaz noticed Ruth’s noble character, her hard work, and her kindness:

Ruth 3:10–11 — “The LORD bless you, my daughter,” he replied. “This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.” -Boaz

When I read that, I thought about how honorable it would be to have someone describe you that way. What a beautiful reflection of a life lived with purpose. After reading Ruth, it’s hard not to want to follow her example—remaining loyal, kind, and obedient to God’s calling.

Now, for the men—let’s talk about Boaz. From what I gathered, he was a man of integrity. And let’s be honest, ladies—we love a man who does what he says he’s going to do.

Ruth 3:12 — “Although it is true that I am a guardian-redeemer of our family, there is another who is more closely related than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to do his duty as your guardian-redeemer, good; let him redeem you. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives, I will do it.”

Later, Boaz met with ten elders at the town gate to discuss the matter of Ruth (Ruth 4:2–4). Naomi’s former husband Elimelek had owned land that was now up for sale. Whoever bought the land also took responsibility for Ruth. The closer relative initially agreed but backed out when he realized he’d have to marry Ruth, which could endanger his own estate. So Boaz stepped in and redeemed both Ruth and the land.

I think that’s another kudos to Boaz. Some men would have just bought the property and walked away, but Boaz followed through—he did what was right and did it the right way. I think his character and integrity likely contributed to his success as a respected, wealthy farmer.

Boaz was also generous. He never let Ruth return to Naomi empty-handed. He helped lift them out of poverty and modeled a heart of giving. I really believe God blesses those who give freely—He provides abundantly to those with hearts that are willing to share.

In the end, Ruth and Boaz are beautiful examples of what godly relationships can look like—serving one another, walking in obedience, and doing what is right even when it’s hard.

When I think about Ruth’s story, I’m reminded that faith often asks us to move before we can see the full picture. Ruth didn’t wait for perfect clarity—she just trusted God with the next step. That’s something I want to keep learning: to walk forward even when the outcome feels uncertain. Because when we choose obedience over comfort, and faith over fear, God meets us there. He’s already working behind the scenes, turning what feels empty into something beautiful—just like He did for Ruth and Naomi.