Embrace the Different - Encouragement for Today - February 13, 2026

Audio By Carbonatix

February 13, 2026

Embrace the Different
SARAH MCCLELLAND, COMPEL Pro Member

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“Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.” Ruth 1:14 (ESV)

When the screen went black again, I knew my phone was slowly slipping into the technological abyss. I needed to replace it.

But I'd just gone through a breakup, and the thought of letting go of the device that held photos, messages, and memories of my past relationship was unimaginable. Parting with that phone felt like saying goodbye not only to the past but also to the future I’d planned.

The new phone I purchased was nice. But it was … different. I didn't feel ready to move forward with different, whether technological or relational. Different meant change, and I didn't like change.

When we go through seasons of change and loss, it’s natural to cling to the familiar. That’s why Ruth’s story from the Bible resonates with me.

Ruth was a woman who experienced immense change when her husband’s sudden death left her a childless widow — nothing like the life she’d planned. As her mother-in-law, Naomi, urged her to return to her parents’ home, Ruth stood at a crossroads. She had to choose between clinging to the familiar places of her past or holding on to hope and stepping forward into an unknown future.

Leaving her hometown would mean leaving behind the hopes and dreams of what life might have looked like there. Going with Naomi to Bethlehem would also mean embracing a new life in a land she didn’t know, following a God she was still learning how to trust. But Ruth made a choice: “Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her” (Ruth 1:14).

Ruth would not return to what was easy or familiar. Instead, she would cling to her mother-in-law and step into an uncertain future. It was a monumental change — and it took courage.

Despite her situation, Ruth beautifully modeled Romans 12:9, which reminds us to “cling to what is good” (NIV). She clung to faith, fully trusting God with her next chapter. She clung to kindness, being rich in good deeds even when she had little else to give. She clung to loyalty even after losing her own husband.

Like Ruth, we also face crossroads. Sometimes it’s the end of a relationship, the loss of a job, the death of a dream, or simply a new season where life no longer looks like what we expected. In those moments, we can cling to what is comfortable … or we can cling to what is good, embrace the different, and trust God with the rest of our story.

Change doesn’t usually happen all at once. It often comes step by shaky step — like finally letting go of an old phone. We can have courage as we trust God one choice at a time.

Lord, when change unsettles me, steady my heart. Teach me to cling not just to what is familiar but to what is good. Give me Ruth-like courage to step into the future You’re writing for me, one trusting step at a time. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

Some days feel like there's just a lot on your mind, and having a little truth spoken into the middle of it can make such a difference. That’s why so many women turn to The Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast — it’s real, it’s honest, and it speaks to the stuff you’re actually walking through. The conversations are practical and grounding, offering the kind of biblical wisdom that helps you sort through your thoughts, breathe a little deeper, and remember you’re not the only one trying to figure things out. If you haven’t listened in a bit, the newest episode is a great place to jump back in. It’s simple, encouraging, and might be exactly what your day needs. If you could use a moment of steady, honest truth today, listen to the latest episode here.

ENGAGE

Today’s devotion was written by Sarah McClelland, a member of COMPEL Pro Writers Training and a winner of our Encouragement for Today Devotion Writing Challenge. We’re grateful for her heart, her words, and the way she uses her gifts to encourage women with God’s Truth.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (ESV).

Proverbs 3:3, “Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart” (ESV).

What is a different situation you face today? How can you cling to what is good while embracing and trusting God with this change?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

© 2026 by Sarah McClelland. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org