But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.  Ruth 1:16 ESV

In this small Old Testament book, we meet a woman named Naomi, for whom all natural hope seemed to be lost. She had followed her husband to a foreign land where he and both of their sons died. Naomi was alone in that strange place, a woman with no resources, no hope, future and no idea where to turn. Her only choice was to return to her home village.

But Naomi found hope in the unexpected kindness of her faithful daughter-in-law Ruth. Ruth shows all of us how holding on to God in desperate times gives hope both to us and to those around us. Even at the lowest point of Naomi’s life, God had already begun to work to restore hope. That hope began in the form of Ruth. Though no one else would go with Naomi and no one else would help, Ruth chose to remain. Ruth chose to walk with Naomi through that darkest time of her life. Ruth had no answers to give and no special abilities to offer. Ruth simply stood by her friend.

God has also begun a work in every one of our lives. Even when we find ourselves in unexpected sorrow God is in control. We don’t need to know all the answers to be kind. God Himself will bring us Hope and He can use us to bring hope to someone else. What does hope look like? With God’s help it just might look like you or me!

What Does Hope Look Like? by Peter Caligiuri © 2020 All rights reserved