“‘Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.’”
Ruth 1:20
One seemingly random day, the women of Bethlehem look up to see a distant figure approaching. At first, they don’t recognize her. The weight of her suffering has disfigured her so that she is barely recognizable. But there is something about her that catches their eye. “Is this Naomi?” they ask.
“Don’t call me Naomi!” she cries out. “Just call me ‘bitter’ because that’s exactly what I am.” She believes she has left full with her husband and sons, and now the Lord has brought her back empty. This forms the chief complaint in the book of Ruth, and it is often our chief complaint as well. If the Lord is so good and gracious, why does He allow His people to suffer?
Let’s put Naomi’s bitter grievance on trial—and our own objections alongside. Perhaps your life has not turned out as you expected. Faithfulness has resulted in failure and loss rather than success and contentment. Or perhaps you constantly submit to temptation. Is bitterness creeping in? Dear friend, stand firm in the Lord who is guiding each step of your journey.
“Don’t call me Naomi!” she cries out. “Just call me ‘bitter’ because that’s exactly what I am.” She believes she has left full with her husband and sons, and now the Lord has brought her back empty. This forms the chief complaint in the book of Ruth, and it is often our chief complaint as well. If the Lord is so good and gracious, why does He allow His people to suffer?
Let’s put Naomi’s bitter grievance on trial—and our own objections alongside. Perhaps your life has not turned out as you expected. Faithfulness has resulted in failure and loss rather than success and contentment. Or perhaps you constantly submit to temptation. Is bitterness creeping in? Dear friend, stand firm in the Lord who is guiding each step of your journey.
Scripture Focus
Ruth 1:19-21
Insight
If we interpret the light of God by our present darkness, we’ll accuse Him. If we interpret our present darkness by the light of God, we’ll worship.
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 3-4
- Psalm 62
- John 2-3