29 June 2026
“Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi said to her, ‘My daughter, shouldn’t I find rest for you, so that you will be taken care of?’”
There is something every heart longs for. We may describe it differently, but the desire is the same. We want security. We want peace. We want a place where we belong. In his sermon on Ruth 3, Mark Penrith explained that Naomi’s desire for Ruth was not simply for a good night’s sleep. It was for “comprehensive security. A permanent home. A husband who provides. Children who carry on the family name. A place where you belong. Where you feel safe. Where you are known and loved.” Then Mark reminds us, “This is a universal human longing. We all long for rest.” That longing reaches far deeper than our circumstances.
Many of us quietly believe the next achievement will finally satisfy us. Perhaps it is the promotion we have worked towards. Perhaps it is paying off the bond. Perhaps it is taking our family on the holiday we have promised them. Those are not wrong desires. Naomi’s desire for Ruth was a good desire too. Yet good desires become dangerous when we expect them to provide the rest that only Christ can give. As Jesus Himself invites us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
Today, pause for a moment and honestly ask yourself where you are looking for security. What occupies your thoughts? What do you believe will finally make you feel settled? Mark observed that “There is a kind of rest we all long for.” The gospel reminds us that our deepest rest is not found in our career, our savings, or even our family. It is found in our Redeemer. When Christ becomes our refuge, every other blessing finds its proper place.
If you have young children, ask them what makes them feel safe. Listen carefully to their answers. Then tell them that the safest place anyone can ever be is under the care of Jesus. He is the refuge who never fails His people.
Discussion Question: Where have you been looking for rest instead of looking to Christ?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive me for seeking lasting rest in temporary things. Help me to find my security in You alone. Amen.