The first thing that struck me when I read this section of the book was the first line. “Orpha’s example of going after the available men could have influenced Ruth to return to Moab, the home of her parents and the gods of her youth. “
How many times have I let the examples of others lead me to places where God doesn’t want me to go? How many times have I let the examples of others lead me to people God didn’t mean for me? Sheesh, the first line and I am already beginning a series of introspective questions. But this is a good thing, I see it as God showing me the times in my life when I did not have eyes of faith, He’s using my past to teach me how to trust Him in my present and in my future.
Before I was married I had my daughter. I found myself a single mother with no prospect of a husband on the horizon. I saw friends embarking on successful relationships, I saw my friends being happy, and well what I thought was happy at the time. And here I was, hopeless and alone. I began to put my hope in my friends relationships; “if I only do this or that I will be happy and complete like them”, “If I go here or there I will find that successful relationship.” I was putting my hope in the wrong things and in the wrong people. I most definitely did not have eyes of faith.
Not having eyes of faith led me down roads I didn’t need to go down, it led me to have relationships I didn’t need to have. Not having eyes of faith separated me from God, it distanced me from him because I was telling him that I didn’t trust Him enough to bring me the husband I wanted, the life I desired, it said I didn’t trust him to fulfill the promises he made to me, it went beyond me wanting a husband.
As the book said I needed spiritual eye wash. I needed God to reign me back in and I need to began working on eyes of faith. I once had the wrong mindset that walking in faith would mean that everything would fall into place, that my knight in shining armor would be standing on my doorstep once I committed to trusting Gods plan for my life. Nope. It did not happen like that. I had to wait and have him better my vision; I had to strengthen my sight before he brought my husband. It was hard at times but I knew He was working on me, preparing my husband for me and me for my husband.
The good thing is that He is still working on me. I am still cleaning my eyes out daily in His word to become the Tonya He designed me to be. I can’t see into the future but my eyes of faith don’t have to, all I need to see is the words written on the paper, and in my heart. Some days are hard and I can’t see straight, I can’t feel the words on the paper. Despite my lack of feelings on those hard days, I know He’s still there. I know I can still trust Him.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Let’s pray:
Lord, faith is hard sometimes, it shouldn’t be but it is. I find myself questioning my life sometimes, I find myself asking question after question about my future. For that I’m sorry. Please forgive me for not having eyes of faith, for not seeing that you have my future planned out and that the future you planned is the one that is good for me. I may not see what you have in store but I will stop allowing the examples of my friends influence me in my actions, I will stop allowing their examples to influence me to look where I do not need to be looking, what you planned for them is not what you planned for me. Thank you for this time of waiting that you have given me to strengthen my faith and to become the woman of faith you created me to be. I bind satan’s lies in your name. His whispers in my ears will not affect me. You know what you’re doing and I am going to trust in you. Thank you for your grace and mercy on the hard days, when I can’t see clearly. You alone know what I need and when I need it. In Jesus’ name amen
Your Assignment:
Is faith as a single woman ever hard for you? Does your vision blur from time to time? Let’s encourage one another, when you need “spiritual eye wash” what scriptures help you see better?
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Tonya – thank you for this. I loved the spiritual eye wash visual. I can put my hed back, close my eyes and feel His love flow over and run down my face. I also loved the part in the book where Ruth 'trusted with her heart for the future her eyes could not yet see.'. Oh to sit back and rest, trust and wait upon the Lord. Scripture the Lord gave me 2 years ago that I always go to when I need to feel that hope is Joshua 1:3-7. God told Joshua (and it runs down to us) that He would give us everywhere our feet trod. We are to be strong and courageous because we have the knowledge that He will never leave us. How comforting to know there is one relationship I will always have.
Hi Laurie 🙂 I liked how the book talked about the spiritual eye wash as well, I've never looked at faith from that point of view. You are absolutely right, there are so many relationships that we may question but our relationship with God is one that we never have to question because he will ALWAYS be there for us.
Great post Tonya. I pray that my eyes of faith will be washed so that I can see clearly and discern the things of the Lord.