Marry Your Ministry

I remember it like it was yesterday, I was told to 'marry my ministry.' Now, a year later, I finally understand its meaning - all due to studying the Biblical book of Ruth, chock full of principles every 'single' gal needs to hear while waiting for the man God has for them.

These days, many women are leaving the faith. They no longer call God their God, and instead, they are serving many "gods." There was a time when women called on the name of the Lord often, but today, many women have left God to serve 'gods,' as Orpah did in the book of Ruth. The interesting part is that Naomi said to Ruth,“Your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. You should go too.” But Ruth replied, “No, I will go where you go and your God will be my God.”

Here we have two women: one who decided to go back and serve her people’s gods (plural gods), and Ruth, who said, “No! No matter what, I am staying here with you and with God.”

In the single walk, I believe we each are giving the opportunity to choose. Are we going to choose God or are we going to choose other gods? Are we going to turn our back on God because we’ve lost something? Or are we going to stay with God?

I often wonder: what happened to Orpah? Did she get back safely to her family and other gods? Did she find a husband among her people? All we know is what happened to Ruth, as she stayed and served the true and living God. Even though she had lost her husband, was in a famine, and lost everything she had, she said, “I may be single or I may be a widow, but God, I am staying with You.” In the end, her staying with God caused Boaz to find her.

Naomi and Ruth went on to Bethlehem and the next part really amazes me. She didn’t wallow up in her feelings or focus on what she didn’t have anymore! Not once did we see Ruth complain.

Today, myself included, we can cry and curse God, but Ruth kept it moving. She did not complain or even cry about her situation or lack thereof. She didn’t take time to sit and rest when she got to Bethlehem. She didn’t mourn the whole time when she lost someone dear to her. You know what she did? She said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain…” In her hurt and in her lost, she got up and went to work. She got up and married her ministry. In fact, it says, “She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz… ” It was at this moment he noticed her because he asked, “Who is this young woman?”

Which leads me to my next question… what would have happened if she didn’t go to glean or go to work in the fields that happened to be Boaz’s field? Think about this for a second.

Ruth met her future husband when she went to glean in the fields, which happened to be his. Since she went straight to work, so to speak, it was as if she stumbled onto where her future husband would be.

Many women won't meet person they're supposed to be with if they're not doing what they're called to do. The same with Ruth, if Ruth did not marry her ministry or get right to work, she would not have met Boaz. Boaz would not have found her.

Woman of God, you are called to do a mighty work; don't allow things like singleness and feeling lonely to stop you. Do you realize what might happen if you went to work; if you married your ministry? You marrying your ministry and getting to work on the very thing God has called you to do will open doors that you’ve been praying for.

It’s your passion and the call of God on your life that will lead you to meeting your future husband but, you have to get to work, NOW! And your future man, too, has to get to work to find you if he’s not working on his God-given talent, hobby, or calling. When you both get to working on your passion, your calling, and marrying your ministry, it will lead you both to finding each other.

What would happen for many of you, if while single, you married your ministry as you waited? Even though I am married now, Ruth is an example for all women who are waiting for something. Something happens when you work and do all that you are supposed to do in life. Nothing happens when you just sit there, complain, and cry. For many of you, doors you’ve been praying for will open if you follow these principles from Ruth. Doors will open and marriage will happen if you stop allowing what you are going through to stop you from gleaning in the fields and getting straight to work on what God has called for you to do. #yourenext

Go out there and work as you wait. Yes, marry your ministry. Something great will happen when you marry your ministry. God is calling you to not sit around and wait but to do what you’ve been called to do! You go girl!

Sherylynne has a deep love for writing, traveling, cake decorating, leading praise and worship, and ministering to Christian Single Women. To Sherylynne there is nothing more rewarding than providing faith, hope, and love to Christian single women who are waiting on God. Sherylynne is the author of God, Send Me My Husband! where women are being healed and learning to wait on God to send the one.