In the opening message of our Under His Wings series, Empty, we begin exploring the Old Testament story of Ruth—a story of loss, loyalty, unexpected kindness, and God's faithfulness in the midst of life's most difficult seasons. In Ruth 1, we meet Naomi, a woman who leaves Bethlehem with her family in search of a better future, only to return years later carrying profound grief and loss. Her story reminds us that faith doesn't mean pretending everything is okay, and that sometimes the most honest thing we can do is acknowledge our emptiness.
But even in Naomi's grief, something is beginning to unfold that she cannot yet see. Through Ruth's remarkable loyalty and love, we catch the first glimpses of God's quiet provision. This sermon invited us to consider how God can be at work even when His presence is difficult to recognize. Our emptiness may be real, but it does not mean God is absent—or that our story is finished.
