Trusting God Through Pain: Lessons from Naomi and Ruth
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound question of how to trust God when life hurts, using the story of Naomi and Ruth from the Book of Ruth as our guide. I shared a personal story from my middle school years when I struggled with trusting God after a series of devastating events, including a severe illness and the loss of loved ones. This set the stage for our exploration of Naomi's life, who faced similar trials and tribulations.
Naomi's story begins in a time of famine in Bethlehem, leading her family to move to Moab, a land known for its idolatry and wicked practices. Tragedy struck Naomi as she lost her husband and two sons, leaving her in a state of deep despair and bitterness. Despite her suffering, Naomi's faith in God's sovereignty and goodness remained, albeit strained. She decided to return to Bethlehem upon hearing that God had provided food for His people, demonstrating her belief in God's providence.
The narrative then shifts to Ruth, Naomi's Moabite daughter-in-law, who chose to stay with Naomi and adopt her faith, saying, "Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God." This act of loyalty and faith highlights the transformative power of witnessing and living out one's faith, even in the midst of suffering.
Naomi's return to Bethlehem was marked by her declaration of bitterness, yet it also set the stage for God's redemptive plan to unfold. The story of Ruth and Naomi teaches us that God is always at work, even in our darkest moments, and that His purposes often extend beyond our immediate understanding. Naomi's life, filled with pain and loss, ultimately became a testament to God's faithfulness and the unfolding of His greater plan, which included the lineage of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Sovereignty in Suffering: Naomi's story reminds us that God is in control of all events in our lives, even the painful ones. Her acknowledgment that "the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" ([32:36]) underscores the belief that God allows or orchestrates events for a greater purpose, even when we cannot see it.
2. Faith Amidst Despair: Despite her bitterness, Naomi's decision to return to Bethlehem upon hearing that God had provided food ([18:46]) shows a flicker of faith. This teaches us that even in our lowest moments, we can choose to take steps of faith, trusting that God is still at work.
3. Witnessing Through Suffering: Ruth's conversion to Naomi's faith, declaring "Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" ([26:32]), illustrates the powerful impact of living out our faith authentically. Our response to suffering can be a profound witness to others, drawing them closer to God.
4. God's Redemptive Plan: Naomi's life, filled with loss and bitterness, ultimately became part of God's redemptive story, leading to the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ ([46:52]). This teaches us that our suffering is not in vain; God can use it to bring about His greater purposes.
5. Trusting God's Goodness and Greatness: Naomi's belief in God's goodness and greatness, despite her suffering, challenges us to trust in God's character. She believed in God's hesed (steadfast love) and His almighty power ([38:46]). Trusting in these attributes of God helps us navigate our own trials with hope and faith.
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:06] - Personal Story of Struggle
[03:28] - Introduction to the Book of Ruth
[04:25] - Naomi's Family Moves to Moab
[05:24] - The Cycle of Judges
[06:55] - Israel's Spiritual Adultery
[08:07] - God's Discipline and Call to Repentance
[09:28] - The Significance of Bethlehem
[10:14] - The Journey to Moab
[11:46] - The Idolatry of Moab
[12:24] - Naomi's Loss and Grief
[13:09] - The Hope of Eternal Life
[14:23] - The Plight of Widows
[16:27] - Naomi's Decision to Return
[18:46] - God's Providence in Providing Food
[22:00] - Naomi's Kindness to Her Daughters-in-Law
[26:32] - Ruth's Declaration of Faith
[32:36] - Naomi's Bitterness and Belief in God's Sovereignty
[38:46] - The Greatness of God Almighty
[46:52] - God's Redemptive Plan Through Suffering
[49:30] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ruth 1:1-22 - The story of Naomi and Ruth's journey from Moab to Bethlehem.
2. Job 1:21 - "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."
3. Genesis 50:20 - "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."
#### Observation Questions
1. What events led Naomi and her family to move to Moab? ([04:25])
2. How did Naomi react to the loss of her husband and sons? ([12:24])
3. What was Ruth's declaration of faith to Naomi? ([26:32])
4. How did Naomi describe her feelings upon returning to Bethlehem? ([27:24])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does Naomi's story teach us about God's sovereignty in suffering? ([33:15])
2. How does Ruth's loyalty to Naomi reflect the transformative power of witnessing faith? ([26:32])
3. In what ways does Naomi's return to Bethlehem set the stage for God's redemptive plan? ([27:24])
4. How does Naomi's belief in God's hesed (steadfast love) challenge us to trust in God's character? ([29:35])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like Naomi, experiencing deep loss and questioning God's goodness. How did you navigate that season? ([12:24])
2. Ruth chose to adopt Naomi's faith despite the hardships. Is there someone in your life who has influenced your faith journey in a similar way? How can you express your gratitude to them this week? ([26:32])
3. Naomi's story shows that God is at work even in our darkest moments. Can you identify a difficult situation in your life where you later saw God's hand at work? How did that change your perspective on suffering? ([27:24])
4. Naomi believed in God's sovereignty and goodness despite her bitterness. How can you cultivate a similar trust in God's character during your current struggles? ([33:15])
5. The sermon mentioned that our response to suffering can be a profound witness to others. How can you authentically share your faith with someone who is going through a tough time right now? ([26:32])
6. Naomi's life became part of God's redemptive story. How can you remind yourself that your suffering is not in vain and that God can use it for a greater purpose? ([27:24])
7. Trusting in God's goodness and greatness helps us navigate trials with hope and faith. What specific steps can you take this week to deepen your trust in God's character? ([38:46])
Devotional
Day 1: God's Sovereignty in Suffering
Description: Naomi's story is a powerful reminder that God is in control of all events in our lives, even the painful ones. Naomi experienced profound loss and grief, losing her husband and two sons in a foreign land. Despite her suffering, she acknowledged that "the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me" ([32:36]). This acknowledgment underscores the belief that God allows or orchestrates events for a greater purpose, even when we cannot see it. Naomi's return to Bethlehem, upon hearing that God had provided food for His people, demonstrates her belief in God's providence and sovereignty.
In our own lives, we may face trials and tribulations that seem insurmountable. However, Naomi's story teaches us that God is always at work, even in our darkest moments. His purposes often extend beyond our immediate understanding, and He can use our suffering to bring about His greater plan. Trusting in God's sovereignty means believing that He is in control and that He has a purpose for everything we go through.
Job 23:10-11 (ESV): "But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside."
Reflection: Think of a recent trial or hardship you have faced. How can you trust in God's sovereignty and believe that He has a greater purpose for your suffering?
Day 2: Faith Amidst Despair
Description: Despite her bitterness and despair, Naomi's decision to return to Bethlehem upon hearing that God had provided food shows a flicker of faith ([18:46]). This teaches us that even in our lowest moments, we can choose to take steps of faith, trusting that God is still at work. Naomi's return to Bethlehem was not just a physical journey but also a spiritual one, as she moved from a place of despair to a place of hope.
In our own lives, we may find ourselves in situations where our faith is tested, and we feel overwhelmed by despair. However, Naomi's story encourages us to take small steps of faith, even when it seems difficult. By doing so, we open ourselves up to the possibility of experiencing God's provision and goodness, even in the midst of our suffering.
Psalm 42:11 (ESV): "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently experiencing despair? What small step of faith can you take today to trust in God's provision and goodness?
Day 3: Witnessing Through Suffering
Description: Ruth's conversion to Naomi's faith, declaring "Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God" ([26:32]), illustrates the powerful impact of living out our faith authentically. Naomi's response to her suffering and her faith in God had a profound influence on Ruth, leading her to adopt Naomi's faith and remain loyal to her. This act of loyalty and faith highlights the transformative power of witnessing and living out one's faith, even in the midst of suffering.
Our response to suffering can be a profound witness to others, drawing them closer to God. When we live out our faith authentically, even in difficult times, we demonstrate the reality of God's presence and power in our lives. This can inspire others to seek God and experience His love and grace for themselves.
1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV): "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who may be observing your response to a difficult situation. How can you live out your faith authentically and be a witness to them through your actions and attitude?
Day 4: God's Redemptive Plan
Description: Naomi's life, filled with loss and bitterness, ultimately became part of God's redemptive story, leading to the lineage of King David and Jesus Christ ([46:52]). This teaches us that our suffering is not in vain; God can use it to bring about His greater purposes. Naomi's return to Bethlehem set the stage for God's redemptive plan to unfold, as Ruth's loyalty and faithfulness led to her becoming the great-grandmother of King David.
In our own lives, we may not always see how our suffering fits into God's greater plan. However, Naomi's story reminds us that God is always at work, even in our darkest moments. He can use our pain and loss to bring about His redemptive purposes, both in our lives and in the lives of others. Trusting in God's redemptive plan means believing that He can bring beauty out of our brokenness.
Romans 5:3-5 (ESV): "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced suffering or loss. How can you trust that God is using that experience as part of His redemptive plan for your life and the lives of others?
Day 5: Trusting God's Goodness and Greatness
Description: Naomi's belief in God's goodness and greatness, despite her suffering, challenges us to trust in God's character. She believed in God's hesed (steadfast love) and His almighty power ([38:46]). Trusting in these attributes of God helps us navigate our own trials with hope and faith. Naomi's story teaches us that even when we cannot see the bigger picture, we can trust in God's goodness and greatness.
In our own lives, we may face situations that challenge our faith and make it difficult to trust in God's character. However, Naomi's story encourages us to hold on to the belief that God is both good and great. His steadfast love and almighty power are always at work, even when we cannot see it. Trusting in these attributes of God helps us navigate our trials with hope and faith, knowing that He is always with us.
Psalm 145:8-9 (ESV): "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling to trust in God's goodness and greatness? How can you remind yourself of His steadfast love and almighty power today?
Quotes
1. "Maybe you've been, in places, and maybe you've experienced some things. Maybe you've had a long-term health issue that you wonder, why isn't God healing that? Maybe you've had a loss of a loved one recently, and did she deserve that? She was so good to you. Maybe there's all kinds of questions. Is God good? I mean, is He fair? Is He just? There's so many happenings that are maybe going on in your life right now that it just doesn't seem as if God is close or near that He cares. Why should you trust Him? Why should you trust God when life hurts?" [02:46] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The author wants us to see that God is in control. That God is the writer of the story, her story and your story and my story. You can imagine, just as things happened and transpired, you can imagine her questioning her God. She is a covenant member of Israel. I thought you were a good God. I thought you were loving God. The covenant love that you promised Israel, where is it? You can imagine some of her midnight talks with God and the tears flowing down her face. Why God? Why God? Why God? Why did you let that happen?" [16:27] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is in charge of all things. God is the sovereign one of all things. God is in control of all things. All the events that come into your life, they don't come randomly, they don't come by accident, they don't come by chance. There isn't this group of powers out there, the fates, the chances, the contingencies that are bouncing against each other that are somehow bringing stuff into your life. Everything comes from God. We live and move and have our being and Him." [21:29] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Will you believe that God has a purpose that you can't see yet? Will you believe that God has a reason for allowing trouble in your life? Will you trust Him with that? Will you believe that God is not doing anything happenstance or by accident? Will you believe that God is a sovereign God who has a plan and purpose even for allowing trouble in your life because He's going to bring us some good at the end?" [41:13] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We think that if He allowed Jeron to get sick and almost die that God must have been sleeping or He wasn't paying attention or He didn't love Jeron. No. He has His purposes. And I think Ruth was able to survive the crisis of losing her family and she understood God's power and authority, but she believed in some fashion, in some way that God was up to something. That God was allowing these things to happen or even choosing to make these things happen because He wanted to bring about some good end. Will you trust God with the good end?" [43:00] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God never allows pain into the life of His saints without a purpose. He never allows suffering, He never allows hardship, He never allows evil into the life of His saints without some purpose. The great God, the good God, is doing something even in your suffering that will bring good in the end. Trust Him even in the dark, even when you're suffering, even in the pain, that He knows what He's doing and He loves you and He's going to be with you through it all. Believe in Him. Trust in Him even in the hard times." [48:09] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We have this contract with God in our mind. Hey, if I show up to church once in a while and listen to Jeron's long sermon, you've got to bless me, right? I'm a good person. I didn't steal from anybody this week. You've got to bless me. We have these kind of deals with God like if I'm a good person, I didn't cheat or do anything wrong, He's going to bless me. That's not how God works. That's a works-based relationship. God always gives with grace. We don't deserve anything from Him in salvation and in our life." [41:51] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "The story of redemption is often, He brings about salvation and rescue and deliverance. Maybe He's allowing you to go through what you're going through because it's going to bring about something great in the kingdom of God. Do you see anything here that might support this thesis or this idea? I do. The book of Exodus talks about Israel being a witness to the nations. They're going to be ambassadors to the nations. They're going to be God's missionary people to the nations." [43:33] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "You start thinking about the tapestry of God's will and all the things He's got going on, the infinite God with infinite power, always working on all these lives. It's hard to put together, but for this one woman, because God allowed things to happen in Moab through the family of Elimelech, she came to faith in the Lord God Almighty. She became a worshiper. God is always up to something. He used their brokenness, their shame, their weeping, and their hardship to bring the truth of who God is and what He's like to invite a woman to become a worshiper." [46:52] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "She has a decision to make. She has something to work on here. She is going to either trust God or she's going to walk away from God. But she's got this thing in her mind like, notice again, she's angry. She's bitter. How long did she carry that? Maybe, I've known people that have walked away from this church because God didn't let their mom live. I've known people that have walked away from fellowshipping with this church because their kid got sick or they lost a job. God can't be good. God can't be great if He didn't provide for my needs." [40:02] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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