Here is a glimpse at my NEW devotional coming Fall 2025. 

Don't Miss the Hope

Devotion 7: It Just Happened to. . . At that Very Moment

So Ruth went and gathered grain in the fields behind the harvesters. Now she just happened to end up in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech. (Ruth 2:3 NET)

Now at that very moment, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, "May the LORD be with you!" They replied, "May the LORD bless you!" (Ruth 2:4 NET)

Imagine with me for a moment. . .

She just happened to. . .

I had already passed two fields filled with workers, but this one drew me and I stopped and took a second look. “Is this where you are leading me, Yahweh?”

The harvesters were hard at work but seemed happy with their labor as they chatted with each other. The gleaners followed a half-field behind and were filling their baskets with relieved faces. Everyone looked pleased as they worked in the rows of freshly cut barley.

“Yahweh, show me mercy. Hide me under the shadow of your wings and keep me safe.” I breathed a quick prayer as I left the road and stepped into the first empty row.

The woman working in the next row, looked up and smiled. Her tunic showed the same tattered edges as mine which created an instant camaraderie.  

I watched as she searched for the scattered stalks left behind. I had never gleaned grain before and needed a teacher.  I followed her example as she gathered the stalks and bound them into bundles with one of the longer barley leaves that she had torn off. I fumbled at first but eventually learned as I imitated her movements. It wasn’t hard to blend into the small group of women who tailed a few hundred yards behind the men.

I glanced up as I got my bearings and watched the process in front of me.

A group of men were swinging metal sickles and clumps of barley stalks with golden, droopy heads were falling. A safe distance behind them, others gathered the cut stalks and tied them together to form sheaves.

A cart pulled by a donkey arrived with four rambunctious boys. Their energy level and noisy arrival winked that their ages were between ten to twelve; old enough to work, but not man enough to be trusted with the precision of this operation. They parked near the bundles of sheaves ready to be picked up and transported to the threshing floor.

“You will be safe here,” my co-worker quietly assured me. “My name is Naftali, and we are blessed to work in the fields of Boaz.

“Here he comes now.” She nodded her head toward the man who had gotten off his horse on the side of the road next to the harvesters.

***

Now at that very moment. . .

Boaz raised his hand and shouted a greeting to his harvesters, “The Lord bless you!”

Each worker looked up from his task and greeted their boss, “The Lord bless you also!”

The four boys dropped what they were doing and ran to Boaz. He tousled their hair and gave a couple of playful jabs.

The foreman approached Boaz and ended the diversion. “Boys, it’s time to get back to work! Toss those bundles in your cart and deliver to the threshing floor.” The boys responded immediately happy to earn a little pay for their part in the harvest.

“This is looking great,” Boaz commented to the foreman as he looked over the field. “Good work! You will have this field harvested by the end of the day.”

“The crew has been working diligently,” the foreman acknowledged, “and they are remembering to be generous to leave plenty for the gleaners.”

Boaz looked at the dozen gleaners working behind his crew. “Who is that young woman tying that bundle next to Naftali?” 

“You would notice the beautiful newcomer,” the foreman teased. “That is Ruth, the Moabite, who came back with your relative Naomi. She arrived this morning and when I introduced myself to her, she asked permission to glean with the others. She has been hard at work, with only a short break for water.

“When you introduce yourself to her, you will see that she is beautiful from a distance, but stunning up-close.” The foreman chucked as he nodded his head Ruth’s direction.

“I will go and meet her, but don’t you or your lovely wife get any ideas of matchmaking. A beautiful, young woman like her wouldn’t be interested in an old man like me.”

Regardless of his words, Boaz straightened his cloak and brushed his hand through his hair as he headed to the end of the field.

Friend, God has a part in your story, and you have a part.

Your part, like Ruth, is a hopeful attitude, a willingness to work hard, and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

You excel, like Boaz, where God has placed you; giving your best, showing kindness and generosity, and keeping your eyes open to new possibilities God will bring your way.

God’s part is supernatural and often arrives in your life in a very unobtrusive, natural manner that sometimes you mistake for happenstance: it just happened and at that very moment.

Reflection

It just happened: Ruth may have thought she randomly picked a field, but God was supernaturally at work behind the scenes. Without her realizing it, God led her to the exact spot she needed to be where she would find safety, reap abundance, and meet just the right person.

At that very moment: Boaz didn’t just show up at that field by chance. He was a thoughtful businessman checking on his workers and in a very consistent manner, God led him to this instant when he would meet Ruth.

Are you finding yourself in a unexpected field? Keep your eyes up and look for the unforeseen answer God is bringing your way.

Don’t Miss the Hope

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.” Jeremiah 29:11-14 

What is the future you are hoping for?

Is it centered around selfish desires and wishes or centered on the plans of God?

The way to find out is to take a step back and look at the words of your prayers and the attitude of your heart.

When you pray, I will listen. When you pray, is it with confidence that God hears you? Are you sure that he cares about your future and wants to give you hope?

Are your prayers honest?

Maybe you are afraid to tell God how you really feel about a situation because the words are ugly, and your emotions are strung-tight.

Remember, God already knows and understands your spitting words, disagreements, and frustration with what is happening. Keep pressing in toward God because you will find him in the messiness of truthfulness.

If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Looking for God wholeheartedly means that you surrender everything. You let go of your own will and desire God’s will above all else, leaving no room in your response for disobedience or wishy-washy commitment.

Response

Even when you are discouraged and feel far away from God, he is thinking about you and will not abandon you. He listens and has a future and a hope for you. God will turn things around and bring restoration into your life.

Paraphrase Jeremiah 29:11-14. Write it in the form of a prayer of commitment.