Sometimes the circumstances calling you into God’s story are the very circumstances that will cause you to trust Him more. While your situation may call for deliverance, the purpose for which He has called you may not be deliverance, but rather, His presence.

Famine brought his family to her land. Mahlon’s father, Elimelek, moved Naomi and his two sons, Mahlon and Kilion, to Moab from Bethlehem. Seeking a way to provide for his family, they settled into a foreign land, Ruth’s home. Life went well until tragedy stuck. Elimelek died, leaving Naomi a widow. Both sons settled in the land with Kilion choosing Orpah as his wife and Mahlon fell in love and married Ruth. Though sorrow filled her heart, Naomi was comforted by the care and love of her family.

No one could have foreseen the hardship these women would endure as both of Naomi’s sons also died. Vulnerable, the three widows were left with no one to protect or provide for them. For Naomi, the choice was simple. She would take her daughters-in-law back to her homeland, where she heard the famine had ended. Though God had dealt bitterly with her, maybe a kinsman would care for their needs.

As they began the journey, Naomi realized the two young widows would have a better future in their own land. She encouraged their return to Moab, but Ruth clung to her instead, saying,

“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)

In choosing Naomi, Ruth was choosing God. She knew in her heart her way was with Naomi to a foreign land. Their hope was for deliverance through a kinsman redeemer, a family member who would provide for their needs and continue the family line. Yet, Ruth’s deepest need was not to be redeemed physically but spiritually. Though she could not understand why her family had endured such incredible loss, she chose to stay close to God through Naomi. After all the years of worshipping false gods, Ruth chose to step into God’s presence. Each morning as she was encircled with His steadfast love, she trusted Him. She was alone, yet Ruth knew she was not alone. Ruth trusted God to show her the way to go and for now, the way was Judah.

Returning to Judah, Naomi and Ruth sought deliverance from the difficulties they faced as the result of their tragedy. Deliverance comes when you step into His presence, even when you do not know what that deliverance will be. God’s deliverance may not always look like you hope it will, yet He will deliver you in the way you need it most.

Settling into the new land, Ruth immediately looked for ways to provide. She set out early to glean in a field. They had arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest. The poor were permitted to glean in the fields behind reapers, and God providentially led Ruth to the fields of Boaz, her kinsman redeemer. Checking on his harvest one day, Boaz noticed a foreign woman gleaning in his fields and soon heard of Ruth’s honorable reputation.

God continued to orchestrate His plan through Naomi’s instructions to Ruth, who returned to the threshing floor. It was there that Ruth would see if Boaz would be willing to redeem her. Though they were two unlikely people to ever marry, being an Israelite gentleman and a Moabite widow, when God brings you into His story nothing is unlikely. Though a kinsman was closer, he refused to redeem Ruth, and Boaz accepted the role. What looked like a tragic ending in her loss of Mahlon and her homeland was actually the beginning of a beautiful chapter of grace. God chose Ruth to be a part of His greater redemption story as her trust in following God’s plan placed her in the family line of Jesus.

In being redeemed by Boaz, Ruth became part of the greatest redemption story. Ruth gave birth to Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who then fathered King David, the nation’s greatest king. Yet further down the same family line was born into this world the King of Kings, Jesus, who came to redeem all mankind. In trusting God with her redemption story, Ruth was a part of the greatest redemption story.

What story is God trying to write for you? Maybe your circumstances call for deliverance, but the deliverance you seek may not be what you need. Your greatest deliverance comes when you rest in God’s sovereignty following His plan because you made the choice to step into His presence. When we trust in God’s sovereign grace, we stop trying to control the story and start resting in the Author. His glory is revealed in how He writes redemption into every scene of our lives.