“So Naomi returned…” – Ruth 1:22a 

Scripture reading: Ruth 1:19-22

Verse 22 is, you might say, the summary verse. The opening words of the summary – “So Naomi returned” – point to nothing less than a miracle of God’s grace. Not that she sees it that way. She doesn’t.

Naomi’s little speech to the stirred-up town’s folk of Bethlehem leaves you with the distinct impression that she’s in a pretty dark place with respect to her faith. She  says, “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara.” Mara means bitter. And that’s exactly how she feels. She goes on, “for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”

Have you ever done that? Placing the blame for your difficult circumstances at God’s feet, when it was your own sinful decisions that led to your challenges? Have you ever wanted to change your name to Bitter, even though your bitterness is your own fault?

Well, take courage from what God is doing with His covenant daughter who calls herself Bitter. God sees to it that she returns. What she said is in fact true even though she means no compliment by it according to verse 21, “and the LORD has brought me back empty.” It’s true. It was God who brought her back. It was God who returned her to the Land of Promise. It was God who returned her to the covenant community.

She has returned! That’s God’s grace! That grace encourages us to call out to God in our bitterness, yes, even when that bitterness is of our own making.

Suggestions for prayer

If you, or someone you love, is in a place of bitterness ask God to reveal that to you or your loved one. Follow that with a petition requesting God to work a miracle of His grace in you, or your loved one’s life.

Since 2019, Rev. Rodney Vermeulen has served the Attercliffe Canadian Reformed Church near Dunnville, Ontario, Canada. He, his wife, children and grandchildren are deeply grateful for the blessing of daily living under the shelter of God’s wings. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.