Let Him Stay
Reading Time: 7 minutes
“With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah. But on the way, Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back to your mothers’ homes. And may the Lord reward you for your kindness to your husbands and to me.”
(Ruth 1:7-8, NLT)
It’s sometimes hard for me to open up and let others be close to me emotionally. It’s uncomfortable to be vulnerable and actually allow someone into my space. Yet, I am reading a story where someone allowing themselves to be uncomfortable actually resulted in their salvation.
The story begins with a famine and as a result, Ruth, Orpah, and Naomi fall on hard times. Naomi’s husband dies, followed a few years later by her sons—Ruth and Orpah’s husbands. These women have no one to provide for them because they live in a society where men are the primary providers. They’re destitute in a strange land, until they hear there may be hope back at Naomi’s home in Judah.
While they’re on the way, Naomi turns to her daughters-in-law and tells them to leave her. Naomi tries to explain why she is of no use to them and how they would be better off by themselves. She can’t provide for them or supply husbands for them. She says they will be better off going back to their home in Moab instead of following Naomi to hers in Judah.
But, even though Naomi has nothing to offer, Ruth protests. Naomi cannot give Ruth the protection or provision she would need but for some reason, Ruth makes the decision to stay. Ruth chooses her anyway. Ruth refuses twice to leave Naomi no matter how much Naomi pushes her away and responds with this:
“Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go I will go; wherever you live I will live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God”.
(Ruth 1:16,17)
Ruth is serious. Ruth can’t gain anything from this relationship for real. Naomi is dead weight and would stick out like a sore thumb. If you read this first chapter you already see how much of a party pooper Naomi is. Bad vibes all around. But Ruth chooses to stay with her for some reason. And Naomi lets her.
Sometimes, I think it’s easy for us to see ourselves in comparison to God and realize how little we could offer him. Working with us would actually seem to slow Him down. We are slow, complaining mood-killers, but God chooses to stay with us. God could easily thrive without us, but He chooses to stay with us. The language Ruth uses in Ruth 1:16 really reminds me of God.
In Psalm 139, David reminds us that God knows us and still chooses to be with us. If we go to the tops of the mountains, He is there. If we go to the depths of the sea, He is there. He chooses to stay with us like white on rice if we just let Him. He chose you before you had a chance to convince Him to.
No matter how invaluable to the mission we may feel, God still decides to walk with us. We just have to open up to allowing Him to do His work. Naomi could’ve easily kept pushing Ruth away, seeing the logic in the situation and separated herself for the best interest of Ruth. Naomi didn't feel good enough or that she could be of use to Ruth. Still, Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi and Naomi let her. I want to point out two verses from Ruth 1:
When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to Go with her, she said nothing more. (Ruth 1:18)
Life would be a lot more simple if we would just believe God when He says he will never leave or forsake us or that nothing can separate us from His love. We all know how messed up we are. We all know how insecure and confused we are. But Jesus chooses us knowing that and wants to heal us. Realize what that choice of love means and shut up. I want us to believe it enough to stop questioning. While we were still sinners God chose us. Our inadequacy won’t change His mind about us. We need to realize God’s determination to choose us, love us, and walk with us and shut up. Stop telling yourself He could never love you. Stop sitting in the pain of not feeling good enough. There's a process of living in what God thinks of you but it starts with a decision to believe it.
Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz. (Ruth 2:1)
Naomi may not think she is any help to Ruth, but I don’t think she realizes how much help Ruth provides her. Ruth goes to get food for them. She ends up at Boaz's local business and Boaz takes a liking to her. Boaz seems to choose Ruth in a similar fashion as she chose Naomi. Boaz knows the weight she may come with. Boaz knows the history she comes with. Boaz knows where she comes from, but chooses her and even tells all his workers to look out for her. Boaz now gives Ruth a cushy job, picking up food that Boaz’s employees hand to her for the free. The Isrealites didn’t even like the Moabites! He was putting his reputation on the line for her!
So now Ruth is coming home with more than enough food and resources than needed by the two women. This is something Naomi would’ve missed out on if she cut off her connection with Ruth.
Naomi could have kicked Ruth out of her life. “Ew, why are you being so lovey dovey?” Instead, she allowed Ruth to get close and because of that Naomi was provided for. Because of the blessings connected to Ruth, Naomi was able to thrive.
It’s hard to allow God in. It’s hard to let Him be close, but I have two points to think about: first, He chose you knowing you, and second, in choosing Him, you’re choosing life and life abundantly. He’s already here. It’s not so much of you asking Him to come as it’s you not kicking Him out. He’s at the door of your life knocking. It’s hard to be honest. It's hard to be vulnerable. It’s hard sometimes, but I promise it is worth it. Let Him in. Let Him get close.
I’m proud of myself. I wrote this a couple months ago and now that I read it again, I'm realizing that God has answered my prayers of not just being more vulnerable with Him, but being vulnerable with my friends, family, and community around me. There is freedom in honesty. There is freedom in community. It's hard. But start with asking God to help you open up to Him. If you give Him access to the deepest traumas, doubts, fears, and insecurities, I promise He won't just heal, he will bring peace and comfort. The process is hard, but it's worth it.
Don't push Him away. Let Him stay.
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This ministry is a faith journey for me. God told me to start it two years ago and it was free for me to run it. Then, more people subscribed and I had to buy new software to accommodate them. Then, God told me to upgrade the website, hire an editor, and upgrade the software to send the messages. Then, it happened again. But God keeps providing and now more than 35,000 texts have been sent out and God continues to sustain a ministry I would not have been able to sustain two years ago. Thank you for continually praying, sharing, and partnering through donations so that we can continue to share the peace and practicality of Jesus efficiently and effectively. You can pledge a continual donation or make a one-time donation through the donate tab or through Cash App ($ThoughtsByPace). I really do appreciate you for the impact you're making.
