Living between loss and direction can be difficult because you are in a place of uncertainty. As people, we don’t like experiencing loss and are often impatient while we wait for direction, yet this type of transition is not unusual. In the book of Ruth, Naomi experienced this challenging transition.
In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. A man from Bethlehem left for Moab with his wife, Naomi, and his sons, Mahlon and Kilion. Without seeking the Lord, the family seemed to be making the right decision, but then hard times came upon them, one wave after another.
Ruth 1:3 Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. 4 The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, 5 both Mahlon and Kilion died. [1] Often, when we experience loss, we face a ‘Y’ in the road, asking, “Now what should I do?” While we seek answers, God’s timing isn’t always ours.
Waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord is excellent advice to give to someone else, but it is hard to receive when you are in this place in life. Psalm 27:14Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. [2] Naomi and her family are caught between what they have lost and what they do not yet understand. Scripture lingers in this space to show that God often works in the in-between. Waiting on the Lord is itself an act of trust and surrender when clarity has not yet come.
As I wait on the Lord, I have time to reflect and pause during a hectic, confusing time, especially after a loss. There is something about a loss that affects my thinking, and as I wait on the Lord, He gives me peace. This is a peace that settles my heart and begins to prepare me for the next season. Waiting on the Lord is a posture of the heart that involves consistently seeking Him in prayer and meditating on His Word. This intentional time deepens intimacy and awareness of His presence, leading to greater joy and peace. During this time, God does unexpected, good things in our faith life.
God Strips Away Before He Can Rebuild
Naomi’s losses remove everything that once represented stability—her husband, sons, and a future. In ancient times, she was economically, socially, and spiritually vulnerable. God isn’t causing harm to hurt us; He is breaking the false hope that security depends on land, family, or plans outside Him.
Before guiding us anew, He often frees us from reliance on what we believe could save us. During prayer and reflection on God’s word, we often see what He is doing in this transition period. As we begin the next season, the valuable lessons God has taught us are shaping us into better people. Isaiah 64: 8 And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We all are formed by your hand. [3]
To understand how Naomi was living between loss and direction, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/when-transition-is-difficult
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.