What can Ruth 1:20 teach us about responding to personal suffering? Setting the Scene • Naomi has buried her husband and both sons (Ruth 1:3–5). • She returns to Bethlehem destitute, with only Ruth beside her. • Names matter: “Naomi” means “pleasant,” while “Mara” means “bitter.” • Ruth 1:20: “Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.” Naomi’s Honest Cry • She voices raw emotion—no pretense, no polished testimony. • She acknowledges God’s sovereignty: “the Almighty has dealt…” • Scripture never rebukes her for the lament. Other honest laments: – Psalm 13:1–2: “How long, O LORD? … How long must I wrestle in my soul…?” – Job 1:21: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” What We Learn About Responding to Suffering • Permission to speak plainly – God’s people can pour out grief without fear of dismissal. • Recognition of God’s hand – Naomi attributes her circumstances to “the Almighty,” affirming that nothing is outside His control. • No denial of pain – Faith is not stoicism; naming bitterness is part of walking by faith. • Community matters – Naomi voices her hurt within the believing community of Bethlehem and alongside Ruth. Balancing Bitter Emotion with Faith Even in lament, Naomi uses God’s covenant name “Shaddai” (Almighty), implying: 1. She still believes He rules. 2. She trusts He can reverse her fortunes if He wills. 3. She submits her story to His larger plan—one that will soon include a kinsman-redeemer. Parallel truths: – Lamentations 3:19–23: “Surely my soul remembers…and yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s loving devotion we are not consumed…” – 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Practical Takeaways for Today • Speak honestly to God; He values truth over platitudes. • Anchor emotion in theology: God is Almighty, not absent. • Expect that present bitterness may be groundwork for future blessing (Romans 8:28). • Lean on faithful companions; Ruth’s presence illustrates Galatians 6:2 in action. • Keep watching for redemption; Naomi’s story moves from Mara to rejoicing (Ruth 4:14–17). Hope Beyond the Bitter Moment James 5:11 reminds: “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen the outcome from the Lord.” Naomi’s outcome foreshadows Christ, born from her family line. Our current sorrows, honestly named, can likewise serve a redemptive purpose far greater than we yet see. |
    |