Coming Softly

Hi there! Life has been taking place since I last posted on here! Today is my first day back at Liberty since Thanksgiving break. I cannot believe this semester is coming to a close! It is truly wrapping up right before me!

In the time of not being as active blogging, I have been working on some large projects. One of those included writing curriculum for a Bible study! I am hoping and praying it will be published into a new book soon!

Throughout this semester, I have been leaning into Jesus embracing rest. I have been learning how to receive what He extends to me while still learning the curvature of His face more than the details of His hand.

My days usually begin with reading devotions from a book passed down to me from my Grandma Dotty. My heart that was starting to grow impatient this morning was soothed with the following words written by Charles Cowman:

“Jesus is our near Kinsman by His assumption of our nature. He is the nearest and dearest Friend of our race, who stopped to die for our redemption. And the fact that He carried our nature in Himself to heaven, and wears it there, is an indissoluble bond between us. Sit still! Do not fret! He will never fail, as He will certainly never forsake! Let us seek the quiet heart in our prayers. Prayers must arise within us as a fountain from unknown depths. But we must leave it to God to answer in His own wisest way. We are so impatient and think that God does not answer. A child asked God for fine weather on her birthday, and it rained! Someone said, ‘God didn’t answer your prayer.’ ‘Oh, yes,’ she replied, ‘He did. God always answers, but He said No!’ God always answers! He never fails! Be still! If we abide in Him, and He abides in us, we ask what we will, and it is is done. As a sound may dislodge an avalanche, so the prayer of faith sets in motion the power of God.”

In reading Ruth chapter 3 this morning, the word “softly” in verse 7 stood out to me.

“And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.”

Ruth is an incredible book of the Bible to study. Ruth exhibits such surrender, trust, and sacrifice. She put her own desires and plans for the future aside in order to move with her mother-in-law who was struggling with bitterness. All of the men in Naomi and Ruth’s immediate family had passed away. Naomi and Ruth were hungry and hurting. Their journey to Bethlehem was filled with the intention of getting nourishment. Jesus did more than Naomi and Ruth could have expected, imagined, or dreamed. During the time of Ruth being faithful to work even in an unglamorous season, a man named Boaz was introduced in her life. Naomi gave Ruth coaching tips in how to interact with him.

In verse 7 listed above, it can be easy to raise an eyebrow and wonder what was taking place! Ruth went to Boaz led by Naomi’s guidance. Ruth was going to see if Boaz would be the one to redeem her and her deceased husband’s family name. At the threshing floor, Ruth learned that there was another man closer in line to being her redeemer. Boaz was no longer the only man in the picture. Verse 14 shows Ruth’s response to the news: “So she lay at his feet until the morning, but arose before one could recognize another. And he said, ‘Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.’” Ruth, after finding out that possible plans for the future may not come to fruition, rested. She laid at Boaz’ feet. She embraced the moment. She stayed there with him. Naomi was at home when Ruth arrived. Verse 18 says, “She replied, ‘Wait, my daughter, until you learn how the matter turns out, for the man will not rest but will settle the matter today.” Naomi reminded Ruth that the situation was not inside of her hands or within her control. Boaz was going to get clarity over the situation and properly inform Ruth. 

Let’s take another look at our original verse. Ruth 3:7 (ESV) tells us, “And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain. Then she came softly and uncovered his feet and lay down.”

I looked up the word “softly” on Google. The definition given was, “in a smooth and gradual manner.” 

I believe that you and I can often struggle with seeing the soft things Jesus is revealing if we neglect the quiet with Him.

We long for loud shouts and bold declarations. We wish Jesus would stand on top of parking garages and use a megaphone to direct our steps.

1 Kings 19:11-12 (ESV) states, “And he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.’ And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

Jesus can speak to us however He desires to speak, but we must listen for His soft whispers. We can rest at His feet today, friend, even when we do not know the outcomes of our stories. We can rest in the fact that He is for us. As children of Him, we can find security in knowing our eternities will be spent with the Lord in Heaven. We do not have to figure out all of the puzzle pieces to what He is crafting. God is capable of doing all of His jobs.

Are you aware of the soft whispers of the Lord coming to you?

Are you resting at His feet being confident that He is the Author and Finisher of your story?

I encourage you to read all four chapters of the book of Ruth. God faithfully worked in Ruth’s life and used her and Boaz in Jesus’ family line.