A Love Most Precious: A 10-Day Reading Plan Based on the Book of RuthSample

But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back, each of you return to your mother’s house. May the Lord show kindness to you as you have shown kindness to the dead and to me. May the Lord grant that you find rest, each one in the home of her husband.” Then she kissed them [goodbye], and they wept aloud. RUTH 1:8–9 AMP

"Parting is such sweet sorrow,” to quote Shakespeare. That is so true when you have taken someone into the deep places of your heart and then you are forced to separate—perhaps forever. Obviously, those painful feelings circled around and brought anguish to that trio of women on the road that day. Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah did not want to say goodbye.

Have you ever experienced an epic parting? How did you handle it? Was God close to you during the ordeal? Unfortunately, farewells are a very real part of earthly life. Sometimes we can slowly prepare for the goodbyes, as we do with an empty nest, but at other times the parting is sudden, and the days and years leave us devastated.

In times like these, the words from the Old Testament prophet Isaiah come to mind, to comfort and to strengthen: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV).

When parting becomes sorrow, cling to God. The Lord is ever with us. He has promised to uphold us with His righteous hand! And His promises never fail!

Almighty God, I have known many painful goodbyes in my life, and sometimes the heartache is almost too much to bear. Always be near me. Never leave me. I love You always, as I know You love me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.