Motivation Monday - Why You Don't Need To Fear Change
“The world is waiting for you to live as a woman of valour. Finding your place in God’s story, knowing your identity does not depend on culture, context and how well you conform. Say yes to His invitation to ‘come’ to a new place of belonging.
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As much as I have considered myself a change agent, I also like the status quo. The day after I married my husband, I got on a plane and flew 3,000 miles across the country to move from a western province to the east. The change excited me – I couldn’t wait for the adventure to begin. As soon as it did, I started comparing my new environment to the one I had left and very quickly, found myself feeling like an alien in a foreign land. In the west, you never had to invite anyone for coffee or a meal, they just dropped in. Not so in the east. I was an informal, ‘come as you are’, ‘come right in, the door is open’, kind of girl, living in a ‘don’t show up unless you’re invited’ world. Trust me, I tried showing up more than once on someone’s doorstep uninvited and although welcomed, there was also a sense that I had broken an unspoken rule that you call first.
I wonder how Ruth felt, following her mother-in-law from her nation of birth, husbandless, without options – to a new land and an unfamiliar God.
What was most scandalous about Ruth’s behaviour is not what we tend to think. She lay at Boaz’s feet and offered herself to him, which was an accepted cultural norm for women to show their respect and submission. But she was a much younger woman showing her willingness to give herself to an older, wealthier man. Boaz called Ruth eshet chayil, a woman of valour (Ruth 3:1). He saw that quality of honour in her not because of all she could do, but because of her choice to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, out of honour, love, and respect, to a new nation.
Where is God calling you to ‘come’ that requires a brave response?
Life is a series of choices. You will be known by what you say yes to and what you say no to.
Ruth Chose Courage Over Culture.
She chose to leave behind her culture in order to immerse herself in an entirely new world. Do you find yourself elevating cultural traditions over obedience to Christ?
Ruth Chose Courage Over Context
She went to the field to humbly gather the barley. Where do you expect God to find you and elevate you to a position of honour? Certainly not on the threshing floor or hidden in sheaves of wheat. Ruth’s kinsman redeemer Boaz found her there and God can find you even in the invisible spaces. He is the God who sees.
Ruth Chose Courage Over Conformity
Rather than trying to ‘get her man’ with being obvious and using womanly charms, Ruth used a God-honouring strategy of humble service. What made Ruth so unique? The Hebrew words used in the book of Ruth to describe her are eshet chayil, which means ‘woman of valour’. It also means to have power, strength, resources, and wisdom.
Valour isn’t about what you do, but how you do it.
Ruth’s identity was so strong within her that it defined her above her culture, context, comfort and the need to conform. Boaz chose her because of her choice to honour her mother-in-law. Their bizarre love story led eventually to Jesus being a direct descendant from their lineage. Her saying yes to ‘coming’ to a new nation, led to Christ’s coming to us from His heavenly home.
Don’t be scared of change.
Don’t be scared of living a strong life.
The world is waiting for you to live as a woman of valour. Finding your place in God’s story, knowing your identity does not depend on culture, context and how well you conform. Say yes to His invitation to ‘come’ to a new place of belonging.
In this cultural moment there are many who are not sure where they belong, or if they belong. The world has changed, gradually, then suddenly. We will never go back to pre-pandemic life. But whatever has passed, and even if you feel like an alien in a foreign land, you belong to God. And He knows exactly who you are and where you are, because He formed you, called you, and placed you strategically to be a woman of valour for such a time as now.
This is the God of genesis moments. He is reawakening you to your true identity. You are a woman of valour. You have strength, resources and wisdom to live in a world even as crazy as the one you are in right now. You have a Kinsmen Redeemer who has bought you with a price and will never ever leave you. Lean into Him. Lean into the future He has for you. And watch for your genesis moment to unfold.
I believe in you!
Cathie