Ruth 3:7b (NIV)
“Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his
feet, and lay down.”
Rest in silence.
Have you ever felt anxious? I have. Right now, as
I write this, I feel anxious. Voices inside and outside of myself yell and make
my fingers freeze on the keyboard. Or they make them run so fast that I have to
keep hitting the backstroke key because I press the wrong letters because of
the speed. It is frustrating and maddening. Then the questions: What will
the readers think? Am I saying what God wants me to say? What if someone gets
offended by my words? What if I can’t reach the hearts of the readers?
How do you feel when you are anxious? Do you hear
harassing voices telling you everything you don’t want to hear? Making you
question your decisions? Go this way. No, that way. Do this. No, that. Go back.
Keep moving. It’s not worth it. Stop trying. How did I get here? What will
happen when I arrive?
Can you imagine all that must have gone through
Ruth’s mind on her way to the threshing floor? The memory of her dead husband. The
times they ran to look for a romantic spot to do what young people in love do,
without thinking of the uncertainty of the future. The good times in Moab. The
bad times. The famine. The trip back to Bethlehem. The work in the fields.
And not, here we are. Not looking anymore for a
romantic hiding place, but for the promise of stability. But, what if he didn’t
accept her? What if he rejected her? What if her mother-in-law’s plan
backfired? Worse yet, what if this man felt trapped, and not only wouldn’t
accept her, but kicked her away for trying to deceive him?
Three phrases stand out in this verse, in this
moment of anxiety: quietly, his feet, and lay down. Anxiety flourishes
in noise. It is like a weed that grows in the middle of all the activity
around, especially mental activity. Like the thorns in the Parable of the Sower
choke the seed. But rest comes in silence. When you finally quiet the voices
that haunt you, you can hear the still, small voice of God in the silence.
We will see the other two in the next days. But
for now, let’s concentrate on the first. Quietly. Turn off the voices
that talk to you from everywhere with painful questions, false information, and
uncertain predictions. Go quietly to the threshing floor where your Father
rests. Opposite to Boaz, he is not sleeping. He is not sleeping off the
hangover. He is very much awake, waiting for you. Come quietly and reverently. #getittogethergirl
and come, uncover his feet and get under His protection. Find in Him relief from
your anxiety. He knows your questions and has the answers. Enjoy the peace that
can only be found in His presence and receive the protection that only He can
give.
Father, how many are the voices that gather around
me and seek my attention! I feel harassed and overwhelmed because sometimes
they are contradictory, and it is so difficult to make decisions. The noise
around me is too much, and I feel defeated even before I start to fight. Turn
them off, Lord. Let me come into the sublime and powerful silence that can only
be found in your presence, in your throne of grace. I want to hear your voice
and only your voice. Give me your peace. Give me your wisdom. Give me your
protection. In the name of Jesus, amen.
My reflection:
“As
a hen gathers her brood under her wings.”
Matthew
23:37
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