Be Still and Follow: The Beauty of Trusting God’s Direction

 “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” – Psalm 37:7

The book of Ruth opens up with a prospect of hope for a better future as Naomi and her husband, Elimelek, and their two sons moved to the distant country of Moab because there was famine in the land of Bethlehem in Judah. While in Moab, Naomi’s husband died. Her two sons married Moabite women, one of them named Orpah and the other Ruth. After some time, both of her sons died. The scripture reads, ‘Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.’ – Ruth 1:5.

When Naomi moved to Moab, she hoped that life would be better. But instead, life seemed to have turned against her. She lost her husband and her two sons. It seemed like her world was crumbling down, with nothing to live for; she had lost all hope of living. In verse 12, she says, ‘Even if I thought there was still hope for me.’

Like Naomi, life may have dealt you severely, and all the hopes and the things that you hold dear to you come tumbling down. Business falling, financial problems, family falling apart, health failing, or loss of family members. It may feel like life is taking so much from you than what it’s giving. Going through such difficult moments in life can be stressful and overwhelming.

Sometimes it is a complete struggle in your mind with questions like: ‘How am I going to start over? How will life be without my loved ones? Where will I go from here? Where is God in all this? Why do I have to go through this? What wrong did I do? How do I handle it on my own?’ In such moments of chaos and uncertainty, negative thoughts may lay their burden heavily on you, and all that you see, like Naomi, is hopelessness, defeat and dead-ends.

While in the valley, all that we may see are winding paths that lead to dead ends. But from the mountain top, God sees a way. Our eyes should be fixed on God, who sees the way, and let Him direct us through the valley and that requires trust.

In Matthew 11:25-30, Jesus extends his invitation to us who are weary and heavily burdened with the pressures of life. He says, ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.’ – Matthew 11:28. It is not just an invitation but also a call to surrender our lives to Him. We can trust in Jesus with our lives and our situation, even when life itself doesn’t make sense.

The beauty of trusting Jesus with our lives is that He offers to carry the burden for us, so that we can receive His rest. 

For as long as we hold on tightly to the things that weigh us down, we will never receive and enjoy His rest. Peter encourages us in 1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” It is difficult to receive when your hands are fully occupied. It is time that we let go. All the hurts, the pain, the unforgiveness, the worries and anxieties need to go by casting them upon Jesus.

Jesus goes on to say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” – Matthew 11:29. He is simply saying, ‘Come, and follow my lead, and I will direct you.’ Jesus is offering something better, which the world can’t provide – Rest for our souls. All that is required of us is to cast our cares upon Him and follow His lead. 

 Perhaps trusting doesn’t come easily for you because of how people have hurt you. Jesus is still calling, and reminding us that, ‘For I am gentle and humble in heart.’

The beauty of trusting God’s directions is that He does it so gently and lovingly in a manner that draws us closer to Him.

David writes in Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” As a shepherd leads his flock to a safe pasture, so does God lead us through the valley, through the dark times and into the land where we can enjoy safe pasture. His safe pasture is a place of provision, a place of spiritual nourishment and a place of safety. 

To remain still in the midst of our troubles is possible through Jesus when we surrender our lives to Him and follow Him as He leads the way. By following Him, He gives us his peace in exchange for our troubles. Sometimes God doesn’t remove the trouble, but He offers to walk with us through it. The beauty of it is that His presence goes with us, and that is real strength and an advantage against the enemy. The story of Ruth and Naomi should be an encouragement to us that God’s direction always leads to a safe pasture, and He gives peace for our troubles, beauty for ashes and restores double for all our losses. Be still and trust in God; He knows the way better than we do. There's always hope with God.