I Will Arise

Rhema TeamJune/July 2022 WOF, Successful LivingLeave a Comment

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Sometimes we have setbacks in life that knock us off our feet. And it may take us a while to figure out how to get back up.

The biblical account of Ruth shows us how to rise from tragedy. Hers is a story of redemption. Ruth rose from the ashes of loss—not because of her mighty strength but through her humility and love for her mother-in-law.

Ruth was a Moabite. She did not come from a great Israelite family or have the right background. But at the end of her story, her name was included in the lineage of Jesus.

Ruth had been married around 10 years when her first husband died. Most widows at that time lived in poverty and weren’t treated well.

Like so many people who find themselves in hard times, Ruth had a choice. Would she let her situation take her backward? Or would she use her hardship to propel herself forward?

Sometimes it’s hard to see the future in the middle of a tragedy. It can be hard to see beyond the loss. And we may have no idea how God can bring us out of the situation.

Just like the sun, you will rise again.
Ty Ward

From Ruth’s story, we see three ways to rise when we’ve been knocked down.

  1. Humbly Submit

Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, encouraged Ruth to return to her people after her husband died. But Ruth refused. She said,

RUTH 1:16–17 (NLT)

16 “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.

17 “Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

Submission to leadership is undervalued today. But it’s a big deal and should not be taken lightly. It’s throughout the Bible. Jesus submitted Himself to the Father.

  1. Be Quick to Listen

Time with the Father will help you get back up. You will be fueled by His power and encouraged by His presence. Within the strong fortress of God’s presence, you can anchor yourself to His perspective of your future. He knows His plans and purposes for you.

Ruth was quick to listen to Naomi. She did whatever Naomi told her to do. By following her mother-in-law’s advice, she married Boaz.

  1. Be a Doer of the Word

Action causes faith to find its full expression. You can say you’re in faith, but you have to do something. You must take a step—even if it’s tiny.

It’s time to grow up, walk in your purpose, and be changed by God’s presence. For that to happen, you have to act on whatever God is telling you to do.

We often are waiting for God to swoop in and pick us up. But He is waiting for us to stand up and practice what we’ve learned (Phil. 4:9 NLT).

In this hour, it’s crucial that we read our Bible and know the voice of God. We can get deceived and confused because we don’t submit and don’t spend time in God’s presence. We’re not quick to do what He tells us.

Never question God’s instructions. He wants to take you to another level. When you come out on the other side, you will be stronger and better.

Just like the sun, you will rise again. God doesn’t always do what you want, when you want, or how you want it. But He’s always ready to do above and beyond anything you can ask or think.

No matter what it looks like, you can declare with full assurance that there is no need God cannot meet, no mountain He cannot move, no prayer He cannot answer, no sickness He cannot heal, no heart He cannot mend, and no door He cannot open. You will rise again.


[Editor’s Note: Ty Ward is a 1998 RBTC graduate. She currently serves as the young adult minister and marketing director at Word of Life Christian Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. This article was adapted from Ty’s message from Kindle the Flame 2021.]

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