67 of 365 - God's Hand

And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek. Ruth 2:2-3
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Rather than sitting on the sidelines wallowing in self-pity about her horrible and unfair circumstances, Ruth is ready to get to work. She asks Naomi about going into the fields to pick up the leftover grain left behind.  The Israelites were commanded by God to leave behind some of the grain during the harvest for the widows and less fortunate.
 
Ruth doesn’t wait for someone to fix things for her, or even tell her what to do. She looks for opportunities and makes a plan.
 
At the end of the passage, we see that “as it turned out” she was working in the field of someone from the family of her deceased father-in-law. At first pass, it may seem she lucked out with that one. But as we study the Bible, we learn more and more that God’s hand is on everything.
 
It is such an encouragement – and relief – to recognize and trust that God is in control. But we must also remember that we need to do our parts. We aren’t supposed to just sit on the sidelines. We are supposed to be in the game; looking for opportunities and taking steps…even if baby steps…to make the changes we need to make in our lives and circumstances where we are able to.
 
Powerful things can happen when we combine God’s incredible provision…putting people in our path, opening doors, and nudging us toward His purposes…with our stepping out to do our part. God can’t wait to team up with us for things beyond our imagination.
 
Questions: When you are dealt a bad hand in life how do you typically respond? Do you complain or feel sorry for yourself, or do you get to work, doing what you can to try to make things better? Do you believe God is working in all things at all times?