A wrong or right move?

Accompanied by her two daughters-in-law, she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road leading back to the land of Judah   (Ruth 1:7)

Naomi's husband had died shortly after they arrived in the land of Moab. Her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion then  married Moabite women.  Ten years later, both of them died, and Naomi was left with her two daughters-in law, Ruth and Oprah.  Naomi hears that the Lord has visited her people with food and decides to return home.  She and her daughters-in-law prepare to leave where she was staying and head out towards Judah, her homeland.  But along the way, Naomi changes her mind and urges them to go back to their mothers..  The young ladies were unwilling to leave her, but after some tears and further persuasion, Orpah decided to leave.  Ruth clings on to Naomi and says to her, “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. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”(Ruth 1:17). When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she did not urge her any further.  So they went on together to the land of Judah. What would you have done  if you were in Naomi's shoes?  Would you have taken along with you a lady who belonged to a people who were regarded as enemies by your people? Would you take a young lady back with you to a country that you had left so many years earlier? 

I recall talking to a former classmate years ago about her experiences when her family fled from Liberia to Nigeria during the civil war. Since they had returned empty-handed, their extended family in her father's village refused to help them in any way.  My friend's  family had been very prosperous in Liberia before the war.   Her father had a well-paying job and had built a very good home for his family, and her mother taught in one of the best schools in town. However, because they had left all of that behind them as a result of the war, no one was willing to lend them a helping hand. To provide food for their family, her mother had to sell food items at the local market. Things were tough for the entire family during that period. 

We  all love the idea of success and restoration, 

but the thought of risk is hardly welcomed. 

The reality, though, is that every good thing in life 

comes with some amount of risk. 

 Like my friend's family,  Naomi was going back to a place  that she had left years ago. She did not know what her fate would be. It was not only a risk going back home, but also a huge risk going back with a Moabite daughter-in-law.  But Naomi decided to take that risk when she saw how resolute Ruth was about following her.

Be ready to take risks

Like Naomi, we must be ready to take risks.  You may not have all the answers except  a heart that discerns that your decision is the right one. It may even  look like you are compounding your problem.  But do not allow that to deter you from doing what is right. Naomi took a risk with Ruth, and that risk paid off. 

We  all love the idea of success and restoration, but the thought of risk is hardly welcomed.  The reality, though, is that every good thing in life comes with some amount of risk. And those who see success and restoration are those who dare to hope for the best, believe in it, and then act accordingly. Those who cling  to man-made  traditions can never experience change. 

Step outside of your comfort zone

Like wise, those  who allow their ego to get in the way of their actions or obsessively worry about other people's perceptions of them only hear about change but never  experience it. Until you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, you will never be able to make the difference you want to make or affect the lives that you were destined to impact.

Take a chance

Along with receiving direction from the Lord, life's journey entails taking chances and following your convictions. Because unless you have the courage to believe and take a chance, you will never know what might have been. What risk do you need to take now to bring about a change? What would be different for you if you did?

Let’s pray:  Father, I cast all my fears and anxieties on you.  I choose to trust you and allow you lead me in this situation in Jesus name.