New Seasons: Military Retirement and More
There’s a sweetness, an air of beauty to Ruth. The strength in her flow, in everywhere she goes, cries out that Ruth is a God girl.
The steps your feet traverse as they venture from one season to another may differ from mine and my family’s. But maybe, in light of our Almighty, they mirror one another, military or not.
Listed below are a few of experience’s insights and words of encouragement that may help you along the way, regardless of your path…with the help of Ruth, of course.
He is your source.
He is your provision.
He is the One who knows the plans He has for you, and He is your ever-present help in times of trouble.
The move to Oklahoma is proof positive. I had always been very vocal about not wanting to move to the Sooner State. I was adamant, vocal, and dug my heels in about not wanting to go. But when the job opportunity opened and we prayed, there was peace. We believed it was from the Lord, so my husband moved west and took this former heel digger with him.
I did this with my friend, Suzi. We were two time zones apart, but I messaged her with a cry for help. She answered. Nearly every day she would pray over me in a message. She was and is my “safe place,” a friend who allows the roots of “real” to be set. She sent, and continues to do so to this day, her daily Bible reading notes. She would challenge me when my thoughts went off track, and she would reach out a hand in love, daily. She was the aroma of Christ in my new season of change.
Although she didn’t know how the story would end, Ruth moved forward in faith. The provision wasn’t evident. She stepped anyway.
I looked at those and wondered whether I was doing the right thing. Should I, instead, venture out and get a 9-5 job? Wouldn’t it be better to bring home the bacon, or at least a portion of a slice, to assist my hard-working husband? Was I being a good steward of life’s new season by writing and (hoping) to speak more of God things?
Confidence in this long-seeded desire gave way to questioning.
Lord, did I really hear You?
Perhaps I was mistaken.
Maybe this wasn’t my new season after all.
In each new season we are called to continue our worship of the Almighty. After all, this is the whole duty of man. (Eccl. 12:13)
This new season is His as well. Regardless of what looms – worry, fear, and their friends, step forward in faith anyway. Because, just as Ruth had a Jesus in her future, we have Him too. And when we view our today, our new season, in light of Heaven, when we view it as a form of worship, the steps forward are made firm.
The ID office was located in the Navy Exchange, a department store of sorts located on Naval bases. We rounded the corner and came face-to-face with khaki and blue uniforms. They were all there, neatly aligned on their hangers. I hadn’t expected my glance at the sea of tightly woven threads to invite a well of tears, but it did.
I was grieving the familiar past that was being left behind. This gal was brought to tears by uniforms, of all things!
And the grief was unexpected.
But that was the past. It was okay to visit and grieve a bit, those were normal emotions that required processing.
You might have them at some point, too.
However, had we stayed with our focus on the past, I am certain we would now be in the throes of an ugly present. It would have been as though we placed our trust in the past versus in the Lord, put our experiences and control on the pedestal, replacing the very One that lived there.
We’re not meant to stay in the land of the past; we are made for His present and future.
We’re not meant to stay in the land of the past; Like Ruth, we are called to move forward in faith wherever the Lord leads.
…and enjoy this new season. I can’t wait to hear how God is glorified through it.
Loved this post! Moving forward in faith without being able to see the end result is hard, but the rewards can be so amazing!
It is hard, moving forward w/o seeing. And you’re right, the rewards, oh the rewards! Thanks for the read and comment, Michelle.
Kristi, love this – just finished studying the book of Ruth last semester. Thanks for the encouraging words! Have a great weekend! Kim kimstewartinspired.com #livefree
Glad you stopped by, Kim. 🙂
Love this: “our lives are called to be a mix of melodies that worship a holy God.” I was reading “A Purpose Driven Life” this morning. And our number one purpose is to worship God. Your words drive that point home for me today : )
Hope your melody was a beautiful one today, Crystal. It’s all about worship. Have a wonderful weekend, my friend, and thanks for stopping in with the encouraging words.
Love these words of courage. if we want to continue to solider on we must cling to the Lord and press on to his best. Needed to hear this Kristi ♡
Love these words of courage. if we want to continue to solider on we must cling to the Lord and press on to his best. Needed to hear this Kristi ♡
Glad you stopped in, Jamie, and that the words were encouragement for the battle. Go God, go!
Kristi, thanks for sharing your journey and lessons learned from Ruth. I especially like “cling” to God with all your might. I don’t want to lose my grip on Him. The challenge to live in the present instead of looking to the past is always a good reminder to me. I have a nostalgic bent, and I need to focus on NOW!
I’m so glad you stopped in, Betsy. I love seeing your smiling face on here. 🙂 Keep clinging, my friend.