Then the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.’
(Ruth 4:14-15 ESV)
There comes a point in our lives when we realize we can’t do everything we once could. Our bodies slow down. Energy fades. Tasks that used to seem simple require more effort. Many older adults also face the challenge of watching their support system grow smaller. Parents pass away. Friends move. Children establish lives of their own. It can leave a person wondering, “Who will take care of me when I need help?”
Naomi understood those feelings. When the book of Ruth began, Naomi’s life was marked by loss. When she returned to Bethlehem, she described herself as empty and bitter. But by the end of the story, everything had changed. God had provided Boaz as a redeemer for Ruth and a child had been born.
The women of Bethlehem gathered around Naomi and praised God for His faithfulness. In their blessing, they said that Boaz would be a “nourisher” of Naomi’s old age. The word translated “nourisher” comes from kul (כּוּל ), pronounced “kool,” a word that means to sustain, provide for, support, or supply what is needed. The women recognized that God had not merely given Naomi a son-in-law. He would supply what Naomi would need in the years ahead.
One of Satan’s favorite lies is convincing us that we’re on our own. When our resources seem limited, when our health declines, when circumstances change, we may begin to fear that we won’t have enough strength or enough support for what lies ahead.
But Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is our sustainer. He’s not merely the God who helps us start the journey. He’s the God who carries us through it.
Sometimes He sustains us through family. Sometimes through friends. Sometimes through the encouragement of a church family. Sometimes through unexpected provisions that arrive at just the right moment. Many times, we don’t recognize God’s sustaining hand until we look back later and see how He has faithfully carried us through one challenge after another.
Naomi couldn’t have imagined in chapter one how chapter four would end. When she arrived in Bethlehem grieving and empty, she couldn’t see the grandson who would one day sit in her lap. But even in her darkest moments, God was already at work providing what she would need.
You may be facing uncertainties today. You may wonder how everything will work out. Remember the word kul. The God who sustained Naomi is still sustaining His people today. He knows what you need before you ask. He sees tomorrow more clearly than you see today. And He is fully capable of supplying the strength, provision, and support you need for your life.
Prayer: Father, thank You for being our sustainer. Forgive us when we focus on our limitations instead of Your faithfulness. Help us to trust that You will provide what we need for each day. Remind us that Your care never runs out and Your provision never fails. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day