Have you ever felt like you are on a journey to nowhere? Or that you’ve lost everything and everyone dear? Does your future seem bleak and hopeless? Do you feel alone with nowhere to call home? If so, don’t despair. God can redeem the most desperate situation.

The book of Ruth, found in the Old Testament, tells the story of Ruth and her mother-in-law, Naomi. It is a powerful testimony of God’s redeeming love and people’s sacrificial love toward one another. It also shows how our actions can honor our Lord and position us for His blessings.

These women’s lives first intertwined when Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, moved his wife and their two sons from Bethlehem to Moab because of a great famine in their homeland. There was a long, not-so-good history between the tribes of Israel and the land of Moab, and the Bible gives no indication that God led Elimelech on this journey. The decision most likely came through human reasoning and desperation.

Regardless, they settled in and, in time, their sons married two Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law developed a genuine love for one another. This became evident when Elimelech and the sons died, leaving the women alone.

Heartbroken, Naomi decided to return to Bethlehem. Now, legally and traditionally, after their husbands’ deaths, Orpah and Ruth could have returned to their homes, remarried, and started over. But both insisted on staying with Naomi.

Naomi didn’t want them to leave their families, and she encouraged the girls to stay. Orpah eventually did return to her family, but Naomi could not persuade Ruth to do so. Ruth even made a permanent vow to follow Naomi wherever she went and to follow the God of Israel.

The two poverty-stricken widows traveled back to Bethlehem with seemingly little hope for their future. It had been at least ten years since Naomi had left her homeland; could anything good be waiting for her there?

Upon their arrival, many asked, “Can this be Naomi?” Maybe they were shocked to see her back in Bethlehem or maybe they didn’t recognize her. I imagine the weight of her tragic life had impacted her appearance and demeanor. Naomi no longer reflected her name, which means “pleasant.” She had lost her joy and her confidence. She even asked her old friends to call her Mara, which means “bitter.” Then, she publicly blamed God for bringing such tragedy into her life.

I am so grateful that God doesn’t turn His back on us in these not-so-glamorous moments. Instead, He actively pursues, loves, and blesses us beyond anything we could deserve or imagine (Ephesians 2:8–9; 3:20). Such was the case for Naomi and Ruth. From the moment they returned to Bethlehem, God met their every need and more.

I get so fired up when I read about the incredible God-victories of these two ladies. I think my favorite part of the story is when Ruth heads out to gather leftover grain behind the harvesters. Ruth 2:3 says, “And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech” (NLT). Boaz was a kind, protective man and a relative with the means and heart to help these women.

I don’t believe for one second that Ruth just “happened” onto Boaz’s land. No way. Psalm 37:23 says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives” (NLT). Ruth’s steps were ordered by the God she had committed to follow.

God delighted in the details of Naomi and Ruth’s lives by giving Ruth a husband in Boaz. Together, they had a child, Obed, who was in the lineage of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Wow! Talk about a redemption story. And He gave Naomi the joy of being a grandmother through this child.

I can’t help but wonder, though, how differently this story might have ended if Ruth had given up on Naomi, God, and the hope of a better future. What if she had taken on a victim mentality, grown bitter, and wallowed in self-pity? What if she had refused to do what she could to move forward and instead sat down and demanded that God just fix it all?

I think it is safe to say she would have missed her “Boaz moment.” Her courageous response to her situation positioned Ruth to experience God’s blessings in a profound way. God used her humble spirit, hard work, and selfless actions to draw Boaz’s attention to Ruth and Naomi’s plight.

We can learn so much from Ruth’s character, conviction, and commitment. I believe if we put these traits into action in our own lives, we would find ourselves blessed in unbelievable ways too. Proverbs 3:3–4 tells us that honoring God and His people brings about favor—both from God and others.

Let’s talk about Ruth’s honoring character. Never has there been a friend more loyal and kind than Ruth. And to think, she stayed with Naomi when her mother-in-law was at her absolute worst, even after she had just lost her own husband. John 15:13 says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (NLT). In 1 Peter 5:6, we’re told that God honors such humility and will lift us up in His time.

Ruth was loyal, kind, and humble. She was also a hardworking lady. She rose daily, took to the fields, and did what was needed with integrity. And yet, not once did Ruth seek recognition for her kindness. She didn’t need to—God saw her good deeds, which she did in private, and rewarded her openly (Matthew 6:3–4).

Luke 16:10 is one of my favorite verses. It says, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities” (NLT). Ruth was faithful “in little things” by stewarding well her time, relationships, and the opportunities that came her way.

Notice, too, that with every blessing and opportunity, Ruth gave thanks. She never once demanded more or acted as though the world owed her for her hardships. “Be thankful in all circumstances,” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT).

Finally, Ruth had a tender, teachable heart. She listened to and heeded the advice of Naomi and Boaz. She never ran ahead; she patiently waited for God and others to act. Proverbs 13:18 teaches, “If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.” Honored by whom? By God and mankind.

We often underestimate the importance of our actions. Whether in word or deed, our actions reflect to a watching world the truth of who we are at our core. And God-honoring actions naturally position us for blessings.

Here are some questions to ponder. What’s our reputation among the people around us? If someone examined our lives, who or what would they see? Hopefully, they see a person who is loyal, kind, patient, hardworking, honest, humble, full of integrity, and faithful. But more importantly, what does God see?

The way we conduct our lives is important. Titus 1:16 teaches that, even if we claim to be His, we can deny God by the way we live. May it never be so!

Instead, as Matthew 5:16 says, may our “good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise [our] heavenly Father.” Life is not about us or about our being blessed. It’s about honoring our Lord. And because He is so good, God will in turn honor us and meet our every need.

Kristi Overton Johnson encourages and equips people for victory through her writings, speaking engagements, and prison ministry. To learn more, go to kojministries.org.