A Beautiful Testimony
By Toni Weisz/Spiritual Disciplines
Scriptures: Ruth 1:15-18 and James 4:6-8a,10
And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 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. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more (Ruth 1:15-18).
Even in Naomi’s suffering, she was a powerful testimony to her two daughters-in-law who were living with her. So much so that Ruth left her family and all she knew and followed Naomi and embraced her God. To suffer well is not an easy thing to do, especially when we are plagued with prolonged suffering, hardship, and pain. We cry out to God and ask, “Lord, why is this trial lasting so long? What am I supposed to be learning from this? Please help me to endure.”
I know several of you are in a season of prolonged hardship, grief, difficult family situations, pain, physical challenges, and depression. It makes my heart sad to see you suffer so. But I know that our God never wastes our pain. He uses it for a specific purpose, which could be for salvation, or to make us aware of a blind spot, or to expose an unconfessed sin, or spiritual warfare, and/or a combination of several things, or the fact that we live in a fallen world and these human bodies are slowly breaking down.
I know in prolonged seasons of suffering; I have learned some very valuable truths about God that I would not have if I were healthy and strong and able to do my daily routine.
In your season of prolonged trials, what is God showing you?
Others are watching how you handle adversity.
For one of our dear sisters, her prolonged trials are leading her husband to seek the Lord. Praise Jesus for that.
While in this season, how has God used you to share the gospel with others or to pray for others or to receive help from others (which is sometimes hard to do)?
A humble and teachable spirit is of great value in the sight of God.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up (James 4: 6-8a and 10).
When we keep our eyes focused on God, I believe suffering can conform us to the image of Jesus. We can reflect His beauty, love, forgiveness and compassion to the world around us. When we have a humble, teachable spirit and we are seeking God with our whole heart, God can do amazing things in and through us. I believe this is what Naomi did, and as a result of her suffering well and seeking God with her whole heart, God turned her ashes of grief, sorrow, and despair and turned them into great joy. Ruth married Boaz and conceived a child who would be the grandfather to King David. Naomi’s life had been redeemed by God. She felt so blessed and cared for by God, and I pray that you too will experience that joy again.
Questions to take to heart:
- What is God showing you during this time of prolonged suffering?
- How can we come alongside you to help you endure this very difficult season?
- How has God used your trials to minister to another person?
- How can we pray for you?
I pray this topic has been helpful for you. If you need to talk just text or email me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.
You are loved,
Toni