Expecting Naomi

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Ruth 1:20.

This is quite an odd scene if you try to visualize the homecoming. Scripture records that the town was stirring about with excitement at the reality of Naomi returning to their town. No doubt, she was well respected in her circle and had created a void when she left for Moab. As the ladies gathered in anticipation for her arrival, they were greeted with this sour response – talk about a mood changer. The name Naomi translates as ‘lovely, pleasant’ while the name Mara translates as ‘bitter.’ While Naomi didn’t reject God she clearly blamed Him – not just once, but four times in her greeting to the women who had not seen her in over ten years. Naomi allowed her circumstances to define who she had become. She went away full (wife and mother with the dreams of a future) and came back empty (widowed and childless), void of everything that had previously defined her. To sum up this season, she went away lovely but came back bitter.

Unable to see her present blessings, she totally discounted the resources God was giving her - welcoming arms and respect from a town she previously called home. Let’s not forget Ruth – a loving daughter-in-law and friend who walked away from her own life and family in Moab. Naomi was so blinded with bitterness that she was unable to recognize the current blessings for which she was experiencing.

We will all move in and out of seasons of suffering and hardship. To be sure, after the losses we will have a story to tell. We will be met along the way with people anticipating our testimonies and looking to us for a story. After a time of healing, every bit of our pain can and will be used by God as a ministry to others. The story will be told out of the attitude of our hearts. 'No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit...For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.' Luke 6:43-45.

Will your story be recounted by Naomi or Mara?