Ruth, chapter 1, verses 19C – 21 (AMP)
…and the women asked, “Is this Naomi?” 20 She said to them, “Do not call me Naomi
(sweetness); call me Mara (bitter), for the Almighty has caused me great
grief and bitterness. 21 I left full [with a husband and two
sons], but the Lord has brought me back
empty. Why call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against
me and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
From Bitterness to Prosperity
If we are honest with ourselves, we will confess that bitterness and
darkness do not feel good. Often during times of bitterness or sorrow, we may
even ache physically, spiritually and mentally. No matter how hard we search,
we can’t seem to find joy or happiness anywhere. In anger, over real or
perceived losses, we can even feel like we are losing our mind.
At one time or another in our lives - we’ve all had bitterness, darkness
or adversities. The reasons for bitterness are varied and multi-faceted: broken
relationships with friends or family, abuse (of any kind), death, and loss of any kind can all birth bitterness in the heart. In Naomi’s life, she was a woman who had it all
and lost it all. When any of these situations happen, we may only see dim
reflections of the person or life we once knew.
Naomi’s grief and loss were complex and spanned many years of her life. Her
heart was broken into so many pieces that she identified with her pain and
suffering so much that she lost her original identify and wanted to change her
name. She had no one to advocate or
fight on her behalf in her older years. In addition:
a.
She was an outsider (living as a
resident alien in a foreign country).
b.
She was widowed too early.
c.
She lost both of her sons.
d.
She was left without provision.
e.
As a mother-in-law, she was unable to
provide for her daughters-in-law, and eventual one left her.
f.
She had no grandchildren and no
prospects of any.
g.
She returned home so poor that her remaining
daughter-in-law had to fall back on the welfare system of that day.
Who can relate to her? I know I
can in some ways. Even as I relate to her pain, I can also relate to her joy! During
times of despair, there’s always the opportunity for hope, love and joy! In the
middle of her struggles, the Lord brought a relative (a kinsmen redeemer) named
Boaz to her family’s aid. Boaz fell in love with Ruth, her widowed
daughter-in-law, and he provided for Naomi while also giving her a grandson in her
old age. In time, God turned her mourning into dancing and her sorrow into joy.
In the middle of my pain, God brought peace, clarity, hope and a renewed zest
for living. Have you ever seen God redeem your time and give
you a new life you thought you'd may never have again?
Just like Naomi, I received the blessings of God as I was carried through
dark seasons to a deeper sense of God’s:
a.
Love;
b.
Faithfulness;
c.
Kindness;
d.
Integrity;
e.
Prosperity &
f.
Sovereignty.
No matter what you are going through, I encourage you to stay the course
and allow God to transform the bitterness, grief and disappointment you’ve
experienced. He is more than able! God shows His love and faithfulness to us
because He predetermined to do so.
Be encouraged! There is always light at the end of our struggles because
the Son continues to shine in our lives and on us.
I am encouraged to live in hope partly because of your blog, Jonella Gaines. Thank you for sharing such time-honored truths. Blessings of Peace. BAB
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