In the book of Ruth, found in the Old Testament, we have a beautiful story of redemption. God’s grace is seen in how Ruth, a Moabitess, marries Boaz, a Jew, and their union leads to King David and eventually to Jesus Christ.

In these uncertain days a particular verse from this book has been replaying in my mind for the past week or two. In chapter 3, verse 18, Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, tells Ruth “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out…” NKJV. This is exactly what we are being called to do in these days and weeks of Covid-19. We are to sit still, to stay at home, to keep up with physical distancing so we can stop the spread of this deadly virus. It is our human nature to want to do something. We want to go out, we want to visit our loved ones, we want to interact. But we can’t at this time. We need to “sit still…until we know how the matter will turn out.” In this sitting still, we have more time to sit with our Lord Jesus Christ. We can be like Mary “who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word,” instead of being like Martha who “was distracted with much serving,” Luke 10:39-40. In our normal, busy lives, we often don’t make time to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word. We are distracted by so many things. It is a blessing to have this extra time now to choose “that good part,” Luke 10:42, and to sit in His presence. Here we can be still and let His peace and love and grace wash over us and reassure us in this difficult time. We can sit, we can “be still, and know that [He is] God,” Psalm 46:10. Rest in Him, beloved. Know He has not forgotten you, or any of us, for a single second. Like Ruth, we can quiet our souls “under [Him] whose wings [we] have come for refuge,” Ruth 2:12.