Ruth 1:7
With her two daughters-in-law she set out from the place where she had been living, and they took the road that would lead them back to Judah.
Naomi gets lots of criticism, but I get where she was and what she was feeling. Like Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh, Naomi had a negative attitude. But as a widow, I feel that weight. I understand it.
She’s lost her husband, which is devastating enough on its own. But she has also lost her two boys. In that culture, this means she has lost all financial support and care. She’s faced with a nearly empty life and huge decisions to make completely alone. I can’t imagine the fear she’s feeling for the future. So you see, I truly understand why she is bitter. And I understand why she feels like God has done this to her or at least allowed it.
Right now, I’m facing big life decisions completely alone. Everything feels overwhelming. My life was never supposed to play out like this. I have an ache in my heart and fear of the future – fear I will make a mistake.
It’s hard to say exactly what made Naomi choose to go to Bethlehem. But I think it’s logical. She was going home. She would know people there, family lived there and maybe someone would help her live out the rest of her days in peace. She chose to go where the blessing of El Shaddai was present.
See, the thing is, even with all the negative in her life and clearly a poor attitude, I believe there was still a tiny spark of faith. She knew about the God of Abraham and she knew God could bless. Though I’m sure she felt shaky, this choice was solid. She chose to put her faith in God even though she was feeling bitter.
It’s that tiny spark of faith that gives me hope. In Luke 17:6, Jesus talked about the power of faith the size of a mustard seed. Some days my faith feels big, but others it feels mustard seed size. So I cry out to God and say like the Dad in Mark 9:24 – I believe; help my unbelief.
No matter how daunting the situation or day, I need to exercise that spark of faith, clinging to God’s Word.
When I feel tossed up in the air, uncertain and when everything is overwhelming, God’s promises can calm my spirit. He will never leave me or forsake me. He promises He has a future and hope for me. He says don’t try to figure it all out on my own, but to trust Him.
My trust, that sometimes seem as small as that mustard seed, might be rocky. But God knows me – He knows you. He knows we won’t get it perfect. How thankful I am that He looks at my heart, what little I bring to the table, and loves me anyway. He will multiply my not enough. He does amazing things when I let go and give Him my spark of faith.
Maybe you are in a hard place too. You don’t have to be widowed to understand the heartache and angst of Naomi. Life has a way of crushing us. Doesn’t it seem like difficulty shows up in a domino effect? But even when it does, I bet you have a spark of faith. Grab onto that and hold onto Jesus. Everything may be crashing, but we have an anchor for our soul. It’s the one sure thing that will never fail us.
I believe God can take our tiny spark and grow it into great light. He can do beyond anything you could imagine. He can take your hard place and turn it into blessing. He did that for Naomi. Matter of fact, her story has a happy ending that gives me an ear to ear smile.
Hold onto that spark and watch what God does.