God Calls Us "Beloved"; Would You Change That Name?

“She said unto them, ‘Call me not Naomi, call me Mara’.” Ruth 1:20

Do you ever get the “Woe is me” syndrome? It is one of the most common maladies of mankind. Our woes come from job stress, family stress, health stress, disappointment, disasters, and the general plagues of mankind. Naomi had been through a lot and she wanted to change her name from Naomi (beloved) to Mara (Bitterness). It sounds like a typical day in the life of most Christians who are bombarded with all the trials of life.

Both the Old and New Testaments repeatedly refer to God’s people as “His beloved”. But is that the name we remember every day? Do we live in the pleasantness of being the “beloved” or do we live in the gloom of “bitterness”? We will all encounter the bad things in life as much as the good. There is no escape from the norms of living. But do we reject God’s name of “beloved” for us and choose our own, “bitterness”? In trials or in triumph we always remain to Him as His “beloved”.

Dear Father, Remind us often of our real name and the peace it brings. Amen.

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