Author: Vanessa Moonkie

Happy new week, family. 🌸 Today, I want us to look closely at the life of a woman called Orpah. Her story is found in the book of Ruth.

Although not much is recorded about her, she doesn’t even have a single line of dialogue in scripture she is still a woman worthy of being spoken about. I believe her life serves as a quiet yet powerful template we can learn from, and some of us may even see ourselves in her story. You might be wondering: What could we possibly learn from someone who barely appears in the biblical narrative? The answer is this, we will learn from the little that is written. We meet Orpah in Ruth chapter 1, where we discover that she was married to one of Naomi’s sons, Kilion.

I have no idea how long she was married to Kilion but scripture says they were in Moab for ten years before the death of the males in the family. That must’ve been quite a short marriage.

“These sons married women from Moab. The name of one wife was Orpah. The name of the other wife was Ruth. Naomi and her sons lived in Moab about ten years. Then Mahlon and Kilion also died. So Naomi was left alone without her husband or her two sons.”

‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭ICB‬‬

I know some people who got married believing, in their heart of hearts, that they would walk together for the next 50 years. Young couples, full of dreams yet tragedy struck. Prophetess Anna is another example. You can meet the love of your life, make plans to have children in five years, build your home together, and then right in the early years of bliss, one passes away.

How do you rise from those ashes of grief?Orpah had no children. Perhaps she sometimes regretted not having them sooner. The truth is, no one can ever prepare for loss. You can’t say, “I’m ready to lose this person.” The pain is always fresh, always different. You can’t even say, “I’ve lost people before, so I’m used to it.” No one ever gets used to the pain of burying a loved one.

Some years ago, my mom told me, “The pain of losing a husband is like losing yourself, because you have known this person as a part of you so deeply that you’ve never learned how to live life without them in it.” I imagine Orpah must have thought, “My husband and I will grow old together.” But she didn’t know his time was short, and that she would have to learn how to live without him.

One of the hardest things about death is that the person no longer exists in any part of the world. They didn’t just travel. They’re not missing. They’re not visiting family. They simply no longer exist in the land of the living. And the reality that you can’t find them anywhere; not in the next room, not across town, not even on the other side of the world but only in pictures, videos, and memories… that’s what cuts the deepest. Orpah didn’t even have a photo or a video to hold on to. It’s like you’ve just told your friends, “Things are looking up,” and now you have to go back and say, “Things have changed.”

People of God, things change.

You don’t have all the time with that friend you’re keeping malice with. The parents you don’t respect or show love to. The siblings you fight with constantly, saying, “I don’t care if they died,” really? You don’t have all the time with those you will outlive, or those who will outlive you. Some people say, “Don’t speak about death, we might die,” but scripture is clear: death is a reality for us all.

Whether you will grieve them, or they will grieve you, the truth is, you don’t have a million years to live. Oh, you need to win the soul of that brother, now. You need to make the decision to follow Christ, now. Some people will not be here next year, whether we like it or not. Some people only have a few months to live. That’s why hospital evangelism is critical. This is not to scare anyone or introduce fear, but to awaken us to reality: you never know when the last time you see someone will be. So make it count.

Be kind.

Be dependable.

Love people.

Serve God.

And remember there’s only one of that person. You don’t want to lose them without having loved them well.

Above all, remember this: grief is not meant to last forever. God heals.

May He heal every broken heart and comfort every soul that has lost a loved one. We see it in scripture, and we see it in our own lives, God is faithful to comfort, heal, and restore our hearts. And maybe you didn’t lose someone to death, but they left your life in another way. Even that pain ; the grief of someone still alive, God can heal. God will heal. See you tomorrow for Part 2.

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Sit still, my daughter, until you find out how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.” 

Ruth 3:18

One of the most common struggles today is the woman in waiting, waiting while the man takes forever to commit, often due to one issue or another. I love how Naomi advises Ruth in such a season: Be still. Be patient. Yes, I know, you’ve done your part. You’ve worked on your character. You’ve prayed. You’ve positioned yourself. You’ve aligned your life not only for marriage but for every opportunity God may bring your way.

Now, sit still. Now, let God do the rest. Let the Holy Spirit move and do what only He can do. There’s only so much you can do. You are responsible for obedience, but the outcome, that’s in God’s hands. There were times I knew I had done my part, prayed, obeyed, aligned myself and yet, it frustrated me to still have to wait.

I imagine Ruth may have thought, “Surely Boaz will follow me home and take action right away.” But Naomi speaks with wisdom: “Wait, my daughter. He will not rest until he has settled the matter, today.” Maybe not in your timing, but in God’s timing. It is true , that our readiness doesn’t guarantee immediate results. Just because you’re prepared doesn’t mean the door opens instantly. But God is always working behind the scenes.

I love how Boaz responded, he took the matter seriously, just as Naomi said he would. And so will God. He is aware. He knows you need that breakthrough. He knows you’re trusting Him for provision, for help, for marriage, for clarity. He sees the weight you carry and the desires in your heart. And like Boaz, He will not rest until the matter is settled.

Do you realize Boaz didn’t just respond to silence or inaction? Ruth took initiative. Now, I’m not saying you should go out and say, “Marry me now, I love you.” No, that’s not the point. But be active. Be intentional. Be prayerful. Be visible. You want to be found, but your page is blank? God must bring someone to… what? A ghost profile?

Let’s be honest people of God, some expectations are just ridiculous. Nobody knows you write because you never post. When I write, I share my links myself. Why? Because people need to know this is what I do. I’m positioning myself for the opportunities I’m praying for. Doors open when there’s something to open them to. This “ghost mode” we love so we seem mysterious, deep, hidden… and then we still expect people to support us? Support what, exactly? Boaz only saw Ruth in the field not hiding in Naomi’s house. So stop hiding. Work your field. Be seen. Be active. Position yourself. Faith is not passive, it moves, prepares, and shows up. Shall we take some prayer points?

• Father help me to move from my Moab, my past, , to move on from a place of hopelessness and trust you with my future…
• I pray for divine alignment. I pray for discernment. May I be found at the right field, at the right time
• If you are single – Lord l pray that my spouse will hear a good report about me
• If you are single – Lord l pray that my spouse will see me, identify me and not waste time.
• If you are married – Lord l ask that you protect my husband and children, may our fields never run dry, may our marriage never fail.
• If you are seeking for the fruit of the womb – Lord the same way you gave Ruth a son, give me my own son
• If you are divorced or widowed – The God of Ruth who restores completely, restore my life.
• Lastly, Lord l pray for the ability to discern the right relationships and to nurture them well.
  
  I want you to show up tomorrow for reflection Friday. There are some questions we need to answer to help us as we continue to live in purpose. If you have a prayer request, drop it in the comment section, let someone agree with you.
  By the way, congratulations on your wedding! 💃❤️
  Read this ⬇️
  

It’s Worship Wednesdayyyyyyyy🤸🏽 , l don’t even need to plug you to any music because I’m sure everyone’s listening to Minister Dunsin’s new album. My favourite song is Looking Unto Jesus . Worship is not primarily a song, it’s a heart posture that humbles us to cast our crowns, to bow, to yield, to understand the greatness of God and give due reverence.

This week we have been studying a woman called Ruth who is one of the famous women in scripture.. As we move forward in her story, we see that Ruth begins working in a field that belongs to Boaz, a relative of Naomi. This moment made me reflect on the power of alignment , the divine setups that often seem ordinary until God reveals their purpose in time.

When Boaz sees Ruth, he tells her to stay in his field. He wouldn’t have said that if Ruth had poor character. It was her reputation, her work ethic, and her humility that moved him to speak favourably to her. Ruth found favour in the eyes of this man , not just because she was present, but because of who she was. May that be your portion too, that as you walk in integrity, God aligns you with divine favour!

The next thing that happens in Ruth’s story is a marriage plan. Naomi has some tactics! You know, the Bible says the older women should teach the younger women. Older women know things. If you don’t have even one older woman who teaches you, you’re in trouble. They’ve seen life. They know how to navigate seasons. Well, godly one’s.

Naomi basically says to Ruth,

“Girl, it’s time. I need to get you married. Let’s find you a good man. Here’s what we’re going to do…”

Vanessa’s version

Did the plan work? Oh, it definitely did. Here’s your problem: the only voices speaking into your life are your friends. No older person is guiding you. Me? I have five. Five mamas I text for advice and wisdom. I don’t joke with that, because even the Bible shows us, younger women have things to learn. Now imagine if Ruth said,

“Don’t worry, Mama Naomi. I’ll do it my way. I saw on TikTok that to keep a man I must sleep with him. My friends said I should do this and that…”

Vanessa’s version

She would have failed. Naomi had wisdom. She had experience. She had strategy. Ruth listened, humbled herself, and followed instructions and look how that turned out. They may not have lashes and Instagram captions, but these older women carry something this generation needs. Learn. Humble yourself and learn. Ruth is the woman who isn’t too proud to learn. She’s not a Miss Know-It-All. There are people you simply cannot correct or teach. The moment you speak, they have a counter message.

But Ruth wasn’t like that. Naomi could see what Ruth needed even before Ruth herself realised it. Naomi knew: “This girl needs a husband. And not just any man, the best man around. Boaz!”Ah, may you get the best man around!

Naomi then gives Ruth specific instructions: “Go down to the threshing floor…”

“Wash, put on perfume, and get dressed in your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor…”

Ruth3:3

It may have looked risky. It may have seemed like it wouldn’t work. But Ruth followed through. Every woman needs a good man to step up and cover her. I’ve come to realise that even a hardworking Ruth, who knows how to make things happen still needs a man to cover her. The femininity we carry as women thrives in the safety of the masculinity men carry. Ruth looks like someone who can provide and do everything on her own, right? But the girl in her still needs Boaz to cover her.

Women thrive when covered well. Forget feminism. Forget the nonsense of “Viva women power, we don’t need men.” You will be strong, yes but miserable. Me I don’t want that o! Now Ruth does exactly what she’s told. And when she returns home, Naomi says:

“Sit still, my daughter, until you find out how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day.”

Ruth 3:18

Let me not even go further. Let’s sit on this part tomorrow. There are prayers I want us to pray in the light of that scripture.

But for now, read it again. And Selah.

I love you. Don’t forget, It’s worship Wednesday 🌼

Have you ever committed yourself to people without expecting anything in return? We find ourselves on the road with Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah. Orpah chooses to turn back, to return to what is familiar. But Ruth makes a different choice. She stays. This is what she says to Naomi ;

“But Ruth said, “Don’t ask me to leave you! Don’t beg me not to follow you! Every place you go, I will go. Every place you live, I will live. Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die. And there I will be buried. I ask the Lord to punish me terribly if I do not keep this promise: Only death will separate us.”
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭ICB‬‬

What truly stands out to me here is that Ruth wasn’t willing to return to the familiar. She was prepared to leave behind everything, her upbringing, her culture, her traditions, even the gods of Moab, to commit herself to a woman who had nothing left to offer. It’s easy to commit when there’s a promise of reward, when there’s money, status, or something to gain. But Ruth chose loyalty when there was nothing to gain but God. As I’ve said before, there is so much more to Ruth than just her meeting Boaz. Ruth was selfless. She was intentional about her relationships. She was dependable.

Naomi and Ruth arrive in Bethlehem. Naomi is old and can’t do much to provide but Ruth steps up! No one has to ask her to bring tomatoes home. Ruth is out in the field, working. She is serving. She’s not lazy. She doesn’t sit around waiting for someone else to provide. She notices when there’s no cooking oil and says, “I’ll get it.” When there’s a need , she doesn’t point to Naomi. She’s responsible.

She’s in a new land, but she’s already thinking about how to put food on the table. I’m talking to women who don’t mind working! Ruth didn’t just “need” provision she positioned herself for it. She had to be in the field to even be seen. And when Boaz asked about her, the foreman’s report wasn’t about her beauty, it was about her work ethic: “She’s been here all day!” But some of us? We’re on social media all day, hoping for Boaz to DM us. Men these days aren’t looking for liabilities, they look out for responsible women who won’t sit while the family is starving. What chores do you know? Or you will get a “maid” Princess Susan!

Ruth found herself in Boaz’s field and I believe it was the leading of the Lord. May the Lord lead you into such a field!

When Boaz sees her, he’s curious. “Who is she? Where is she from?” And then a foreman steps up and says, “I’ve got some information.” Listen, it was that information that made Boaz allow her to stay. It wasn’t a perfume (although you MUST put on some) It wasn’t her body. She didn’t seduce anyone to “pick her”. She didn’t seduce the foreman. It was her selflessness that opened the door. If you’re selfish, if your whole life is built around you, your little sandcastle will soon be blown away by the winds. Nobody wants a selfish friend. As a matter of fact, some people left you & you’re still complaining about how bad they were but they were running away from your me me me attitude.

Do you know, Ruth didn’t introduce herself. Her works did. Ruth didn’t have the Rachel figure that made Jacob work 14 years. We don’t hear about her curves or her cuteness, we hear about her heart. She’s the woman who left her people to stand with her mother-in-law. She’s the woman who brought food home. She’s the woman who worked. She’s the woman who made things work. She’s the woman with love. She’s the woman who gave of herself.

She reminds me of Tabitha (Dorcas), the woman in Acts 9 who was known for doing good and helping the poor. When she died, the widows stood and wept, holding out the clothes she had made for them. Her life spoke for her. Dear women, what people say about you matters. If you think it doesn’t? Think again and think McCain! Your life preaches before your mouth does. “I don’t care. I’m living my best life!” Okay. In rooms you cannot enter, there are people in there who can speak of you. I hope they’re not talking about how rude you are.

Ask yourself… or better yet, ask someone around you who will be honest: What in my character needs to change? What could be quietly closing the doors of opportunity in my life?

Am I selfish?

Am I lazy?

Am I rude?

Am I proud?

If you were the foreman, what would you say about you? Because here’s the truth: Even the person you overlook might be the one holding the report about you. Some of you are only kind to rich people. I’ll say it ooo! You serve certain people with a smile because you think they can do something for you.You’ll happily clean a billionaire’s house, but your own mother has to beg you to wash the dishes. Listen: Boaz was the owner of the field, but it was the foreman who had the information that kept Ruth in the field.

So before you go around saying “I’m Ruth,”remember, Ruth is a whole book, not just a chapter. The foremen are watching – Selah.

Let’s do part 3 tomorrow and come to a conclusion.

I love you.🌺