TAKDIR

One thing I treasured as a child was the Bible I received from my mother. I do not remember exactly when or where she gave it to me, although I think she would remember the details better, but I clearly remember how excited I was. What made this Bible special was that it had pictures in every book, summarizing each story. I have always been a bookworm since I was young, and if a book had pictures, I loved it even more. Because of those illustrations, I became even more interested in reading it.

One story I remember vividly is the Book of Ruth. There was a picture of a woman running along a road toward another woman. As a child, I kept wondering what her story was. Since the Book of Ruth is quite short, I read and finished it in a single day. At that time, I did not really understand the story of Ruth and Boaz. What stayed with me instead was Ruth’s love for her mother in law and her persistence in staying with Naomi, a widow who had lost her sons. That image of one woman supporting another left a deep impression on my heart.

As I grew older, my understanding of Ruth’s story deepened. Through Bible study, listening to pastors’ teachings, and personal reflection, my perspective expanded, especially about God, fate, humility, and love. Just last month, I read Ruth’s story again through the Pastor Joseph Prince Daily App. The story of how Ruth and Boaz met and eventually married filled me with joy and amazement once more. I saw how Boaz cared for Ruth from the very beginning, and it reminded me of how God loves and cares for us. Recently, as I have been praying for my own “Boaz,” I find myself drawn to stories like this, stories that strengthen my hope and faith.

I have always been fascinated by my father’s story of how he met my mother. He was encouraged by his parents to get married, but as a sailor, he found it difficult to meet someone, so he prayed. On one of his journeys from Indonesia to Japan, he stopped in Maluku and met a pastor who was selling Bibles to raise funds for mission work. The pastor told him that he would meet his future wife in his hometown, Poso. It seemed impossible since my father was heading to Japan, so he brushed off the idea. However, due to a problem with the ship, he had to dock at the nearest port, which happened to be Poso. My mother, who was friends with his sister, went to the ship to accompany her and bring food and supplies. That was where they met, and the rest is history.

Yesterday, I also watched a story on YouTube (link below) about a love that heals. It was about an elderly couple, a pilot named Kang Aam and his wife, Neng Icke, who had known each other since childhood. Social status was a major obstacle for the man in pursuing the woman he loved. However, his sincerity, honesty, and persistence eventually broke down those barriers. Even when the woman was diagnosed with cancer, he believed that love could bring healing. I found myself thinking how blessed she is to be loved so deeply and passionately. Stories like this naturally bring joy because it is part of human nature to be moved by true love.

At the same time, we often only want to hear the happy ending, forgetting how long and difficult the journey can be. Their story reminded me that love is not always easy. One thing that stayed with me was Neng Icke’s advice that marriage is an institution from God and that God is so good because He will bring someone who will love us dearly. That message is powerful. They prayed and involved God in every step of their journey, and in the end, they realized that everything comes back to God.

Just like Ruth’s story and my parents’ story, it has always been about God, His perfect timing, His perfect plan, and the right person at the right moment. These stories give me hope that one day, I too will meet my Boaz. I believe that even now, God is working in His way, moving things into place for me.

Ruth 2:10-12

10 At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” 11 Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. 12 May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.”

Youtube link https://youtu.be/ts-NwqWv_-0?si=mb0tuN_ZiKIWyMK4