The happily ever after story maybe shows the greatness of God in Naomi and Ruth's life, but the grief that came from the loss of their men in the story only caused them to strengthen the journey of faith as Ruth and Naomi go back to Israel, to the people of Naomi. Ruth promising to follow the God of Naomi people and to care for her mother in law. Despite that Naomi had no sons to marry Ruth, she did find among Naomi people as kinsmen who cared for her and her mother inlaw. Naomi would once again have a family with her trust in God. The journey from sorrow to joy, yet it would come by obedience to God, to her mother inlaw and hardwork caring for her mother inlaw and her needs.

Not every story of faith, and obedience to God is dramatic, or life altering, as we see in the anointing of King David, Moses and the burning bush, Paul/Saul who meet Christ in a bright light on the way to Damacus, Peter and the disciples journey with Jesus, Joshua, Gideon, Mary(mother of Jesus) or even Sarah. Drama of scripture only tells of difficult situations men and women faced and their strong desire to believe despite sometimes common sense of the situation. Some situations never having the complete happily ever after story because of their careers, or call on their life. Their rest and joy came not necessarily in a happily ever after story but in their struggles and achievements when walking with God. A king would always be in a world of drama, Gideon would get to go back to farming, which only speaks of a day after his life altering events as a leader in battle. Mary(Mother of Jesus) drama went to the cross and beyond into a world of persecution of the saints. Imagine not only her story but those that followed her Son. Paul no one knows what really happened at the end of his life, but what we know is he ran the race before him of sharing Jesus despite the persecution of the saints of God. The Prophet Samuel a peaceful prophet, with his own heart aches in life, but maybe more normal life despite his call to minister to the kings. His own knowledge of seeing King Saul in his obedience in his service to God and then being outcast from God by the removing of God's Spirit and evil spirit dwelling in his heart because of sin. Saul's story not receiving the happily ever after story, but a life that lead to destruction.

You maybe in a position of leadership, or maybe not, but what ever position you hold in life you can know God is faithful to you and that his word does not change. You can trust in God to bring you to the end of days being full and satisfied with the work and call on your life, or you can live in full disobedience never receiving the true hope or desire of your heart. The call to run the race of faith, does not have an end date we visibly can see. Yet we can know that when our time is up we will be with the Lord. Some struggles in life are deep and hard to deal with and others will they do bring sorrow but an onward push to keep fighting on. The thing that each person that ran the race of faith seem to find was the love of God, the hope and his faithfulness to guide and direct in their life. Those that sought it their way, found an emptiness and anger like King Saul, who with correction would not repent.

I look at my own mistakes and sometimes wonder how God ever puts up with me, but even I can say God is faithful to me despite hardship, struggles and difficulties. When I have had a hard day and I can still smile and say God is faithful or after a struggle can say God is faithful, then you can bet, who am I trusting in even in the good times, when all things seem right and peaceful. I still will be trusting in Jesus the author and finisher of my faith. Ruth found hope in God the Father and seen her happy ending in life with raising of a family and living with a new husband and surrounded by her mother inlaw from her first husband who was like a mother to her apparently. Her faith complete with saying I trusting in the God of Israel. Who would ever imagine she would be in the ancestory line of the Messiah. What is a true bloodline to Christ the people of the world, including the people of Israel. Trust in Jesus today for he has taken our sins away and given us knew hope through his resurrection. Each person of the old covenant wait on the day of salvation that would come through Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father open our eyes to see your greatness to be faithful to your people in the journey of life, no matter how simple their life seems to ourselves. Bring your people to a time of rest and joy after the hard struggles that have been occuring in this past century. Bring us that reassurance of joy found only in you. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Hebrews 12:1-2 KJV
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.