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Writer's pictureJamie Klusacek

Boot-Shaking Courage

Updated: Aug 26, 2021

Ruth 3:1-4


The night had come. The atmosphere was electric, but now a peaceful lull descended upon the field. The months of labor proved worth the effort. The barns were overflowing. Her stomach was in knots as she approached the threshing floor, praying to God that she would go unnoticed by all except Boaz. She hoped that her hours of preparation would pay off.


Would he notice her efforts? She wore her best dress, freshly washed and pressed. Her hair—simple, partly-braided, beautiful—is exceptional, especially for this occasion. Her perfume smelled like fresh lilies on a summer morning. The night air caressed her face and she felt her cheeks flush as she tiptoed her way to the open barn.


And there he was. Asleep, just like Naomi had predicted. She quietly made her way to where he lay, uncovered his feet, knelt down beside him, and just stared. Before her lied a man so strong and handsome, with a heart so kind it touched all those he met.


She gently laid herself down, offering herself willingly to him. She arranged her hair and dress in meticulous order so that when he woke she would look her best.


Any moment now. Any moment he would awake.


But it wasn’t any moment; Boaz was in deep sleep, and as much as she wanted to remain awake to see his reaction to her there, she began to succumb to sleep herself. For here is where she belonged. Here she felt safe, secure and loved. So she slept, dreaming that when she woke she would have the courage to complete what she came there for and ask for his hand in marriage.


Rewind to earlier that week. It had been months since her first encounter with Boaz, a kind,

generous man of character and integrity. Everything a woman could have wanted in a man, and more.


The passing of time, of course, had only intensified these qualities in him. He had proven himself above and beyond generous to both Ruth and Naomi, and now it was time for Ruth to make her move.


One day, having returned from the field, Naomi came up with a plan. Go to Boaz after he is done eating, drinking and celebrating the harvest go lay yourself at his feet on the threshing floor. Oh yeah, and then ask him to marry you! That’s basically what she was asking Ruth to do.


Can you imagine? After all those months of serving alongside him and his servants could she risk that relationship and agree to this plan which was so far outside her comfort zone? What if he said no? What if the respect he had for her faded with this one act of vulnerability? What if, what if, what if? Yet she agreed to it, even though it was socially unacceptable and there was risk involved.


Even though she had to step into a position she wasn’t comfortable with, she still did it. Ruth was courageous.


Isn’t this what life is all about? Having the foresight to know what to do when those big moments come—the moments where we need to decide if we will take the leap, trust God, and just go for it, despite what we feel.


Our inadequacies, evident. Our fear, present. Yet, we push past our feelings and do it anyway. Of course, we take time to pray and seek wise counsel before we make the leap, but when we know deep down in our hearts it’s a God move, we have to take it. And that takes courage.


Courage to believe. Courage to move forward. Courage that even if you fail, you will learn through it. We all have moments like Ruth’s moment of courage. I would rather walk obediently toward these moments than live a life of regret having never made my move.


Of course, God doesn’t promise a 100% success rate—at least not the way we view success. In fact, I think sometimes failure is a part of His big plan. He works more in me through my perceived failure than success at times. Either way, we’ve got to have courage to follow Him.


The only alternative to Ruth not moving forward with courage was living a life of regret. Regret comes when you don’t say yes to the things God is calling and asking you to do. Don’t trade obedience to God for anything else in life. If Ruth would have thought more about what people thought of her, she never would have made her courageous leap of faith.


What is true courage? I am convinced that you and I, walking fully in courageous obedience,

regardless of what others perceive is best, will lead to our best selves. And we, living as our best selves in all God created us to be, will build God’s kingdom at a rate we never thought possible.


"So just be a little courageous."


Photo Credit: Avonne Stalling


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