If anyone had created a manual for ‘how to get through Uni emotion free’, I feel like my semester would have gone a lot easier. Instead, like every semester, I had to go through those times of stress, bewilderment, and frustration, not to mention consistently reminding myself that ‘this is what I am dreaming of. This is what I want to accomplish.’
There is no easy way to get from where we are, to where we want to be. I guess that is why they call it a journey. The Oxford dictionary defines the word journey as: ‘An act of travelling from one place to another’.
This act of travelling from one place to another, means an endurance of all that comes in between—the good and the bad. This middle setting is generally what happens to our favourite characters in movies when they are about to do something incredible, or finally find out something they had no clue about at the start.
The middle
The middle of our journey should be seen as a time of reliance on God. We should always rely on him, wherever we are at in our lives. However, for the sake of this journey, reliance in him is how we get through to the next point.
Reaching the pinnacle of what we deem a successful point in our lives is so important. No matter how many little steps we take, we must keep going until we get to the next pinnacle.
Ruth
I love the story of Ruth in the Bible. She is such an inspiring and incredible woman of faith. The thing I love most about her is that, although she had lost so much, she kept going. She took that step of faith, let go of her misfortune, and followed God’s calling on her life.
Ruth’s story started off in a horrible situation—a family fleeing from a famine. She lost her husband, her brother-in-law and father-in-law in that time too. Although the pain was great and the loss was greater, God’s hand was amongst it all.
Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, insisted for her to leave and go home to her family and home town. However, Ruth did not want to leave. Ruth chapter 1 verse 16 says: ‘But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”’
Ruth stayed with Naomi and followed her into Bethlehem. Ruth followed every instruction given to her by Naomi, she respected her, and loved her like her own mother. God saw Ruth’s faithfulness and loyalty towards Naomi, and he rewarded her greatly.
Ruth was led to a man named Boaz who she would end up marrying. Boaz was a good man, and he was a part of God’s plan for Ruth all along.
Favour
‘She asked him, “Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.’ (Ruth chapter 2 verse 10-12)
Ruth’s redemption started from a painful past. God took this young woman, prompted her heart, and she followed him. This evidently led her to one of the most pinnacle points of history. Because of her faithful actions, she became an essential part in the genealogy of Christ. God showed up and rewarded her faith by renewing her life with abundant blessing.
Ruth was a woman of faith and loyalty. Though she endured much in her life, she was rewarded for her faithful actions. She found her strength in God and continued to follow him no matter what.
When we go through the roughest times in our life, God is wanting us to rely on him. Just like Ruth did, we need to be faithful and continue to follow him even in the midst of our trials. Through profound struggle, God leads us to abundant blessing and opportunity.
Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10 - ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.’
Proverbs chapter 3 verse 6 (NLT) – ‘Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.’
Cartia Moore is a connoisseur of fine chocolate and a sword fighter, trained and skilled in the art of fencing. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Screen & Media Studies, and minoring in Drama and Creative Writing. Her focus is film, television and swordfighting sequences.
Cartia Moore’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/cartia-moore.html