“Call
me not Naomi; call me Mara.” Ruth 1:20
There are multiple types of
tragedies that afflict the believer in this world. From hatred and persecution
to suffering the same sadnesses shared by all people, Christians are not
exempted from pain and sorrow. How we respond to them, however, is to be a more
shining testimony of our faith than we find in Naomi. Her name means
“Pleasant”, but she wanted her friends to call her Mara, meaning “Bitter”.
Christians are not required to put
on a happy face when sad things happen. That would deny our humanity. But we
are expected to see things in a different light and reflect that light in our
attitude. We are never to be called bitter because that is the nature of the
world. We still have our hope in Christ, our home in heaven, the presence of
Christ in our lives, and a peace that passes understanding. We can sorrow, Paul
says, but not as others who have no hope. That is the difference.
Dear Father, Thank you for never
leaving us in life’s darkest hours. Amen
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