Two-minute read.
At dinner with friends, I will never forget receiving the phone call about the death of our flower girl in a tragic accident. In an instant, one of my longest friendships shifted into a season none of us ever imagined. In the 18 months since the accident, I have learned to navigate the relationship in unexpected ways. Where once we talked on the phone daily, we rarely do now. Instead, we get together for coffee, spend time together, cry together, and, on occasion, even laugh. Our friendship has changed with the loss, but it continues to grow amid suffering.
We never know what the day will bring or how it will affect our friendships. Naomi and Ruth endured unimaginable loss. Naomi’s husband moved her and their two sons to Moab. Her husband passes away, and Naomi’s sons marry Moabite women, Ruth and Orpah. When her sons both die, leaving three widows to fend for themselves, Naomi decides to move back to Bethlehem. Orpah returns to her family, but Ruth refuses to leave her mother-in-law and determines to go with her.
Ruth had found the Lord when she married into Naomi’s family, something she didn’t have in the pagan nation, and something she didn’t want to give up. God strengthens relationships during times of trial, the cord that holds things together when everything falls apart. In the end, Ruth meets Boaz and becomes a great-grandmother to King David, but first, the women endured hardships that strengthened their bond.
Like with my friend, we didn’t want to go through the valley of death, but God has met us in our pain and helped us persevere. The story continues, one day at a time, as we navigate the shifting season, but we do it together with the Lord. In this world, we will have trouble, but we can take heart because Jesus overcame it.
Make Christ the center of all your relationships. When life gets out of balance, He helps you find your footing. The waves of trouble will knock us to our knees, but Jesus picks us up and shows us how to persevere. When we keep the Son in our eyes, we will never lose our way. Until He calls us home, the Savior never leaves us nor forsakes us, but helps us navigate the twists and turns of life. Cling to the Lord and go wherever He takes you, knowing He will show you how to navigate the shifting seasons of life.
Journal Questions:
When has life knocked you to your knees?
How does having Jesus help you navigate the valleys?
Who has walked through difficult times with you?
Friendship Application:
Keep the Son in your eyes and trust Him to help you navigate the shifting seasons of life.
