Ruth 1:20-21
“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.”
Naomi is disavowing her name, which means “Pleasant”, and instead wants to be called Mara, which means “Bitter”. Naomi feels that the Lord has brought misfortune on her, but Ruth is determined to go with her, stay with her, serve with her.
Dear Lord, We are grateful for you even in times of trouble and heartbreak. We ask that you remind us of your presence in the midst of our pain. We are grateful for the people you place in our lives to accompany us on our journey. Help us to be mindful of others’ hurts and give us the strength and determination to walk alongside one another in faith and confidence. Amen
