Are you bitter?

Hello sisters!

Since we are currently studying the book of Ruth, I figured I'll share this post I wrote earlier this year. This is meant to encourage you, I hope it does.

When life gives you lemons, do you make lemonade? And perhaps add a little agave to it.

Quite often, life can seem so daunting and we begin questioning God. The life of Naomi, in the book of Ruth is an example of how some of us might feel during our must difficult situation in life. At times, we may look on the outside and see that everyone’s life seems to moving so smoothly, yet ours seem like a scene out a very sad movie. But the sad but encouraging truth is that everyone goes through dark times. Jesus said in this world, you’ll have trials and tribulations but rather than looking for peace in it, will should find it in Him. If you're not familiar with Naomi's story, it’s pretty sad and discouraging. The Bible states that Naomi, not only lost her husband but her two sons as well. She was left with her two daughters-in-law, Orphan and Ruth. She attempted to send the two back to their mother's houses but Ruth clung to Naomi and refused to go back. As Naomi, returned back to her homeland, on her way, she met with the people in the town, and they recognized her. So, they asked themselves, "is this Naomi?" here was her reply:

And she said unto them, “call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me”.

The Hebrew meaning of Naomi is pleasantness and Mara means bitter. Here is a woman who literally lost everything, her husband dies then shortly after, both her sons also die. What a bitter life! I mean, we can't question God but a lot of us are on the same boat. As I write this, I think of my experience with losing both my parents at a young age. It left me confused and at the times I had no conception of how God works. I was left feeling bitter for a while. It affected my life in so many ways, socially, economically, physically but ultimately as I got older and I came to know the Lord, I became better. So, the lesson here is that we are allowed to be bitter, but as we walk with God, we can allow God to turn our bitterness into BETTER. The Lord will surely do it. He did it even in Naomi's situation. Naomi was bitter and she had a reason to be bitter, but because of Ruth's obedience and commitment to her, Naomi was able to changer her situation from Bitter to Better. Take notice, that Ruth also lost her husband, but she persevered and remained committed to God's will for her life and the Lord ultimately brought her fulfillment.

Today I pray that the good Lord turns your situation from bitter to BETTER. May His abounding hand be upon your life. May every bitter situation be turned to BETTER. May God give you grace and favor like Ruth, along with wisdom, kindness, patience and peace. May every situation that seems daunting be reversed to greatness. May the Lord give you strength, hope and faith to stand strong in the face of adversity. In Jesus' name, amen.