Bitter or Better
Naomi and her family had left Bethlehem to go to Moab when Judah was in a famine. They settled in Moab, where there was food, and her sons married Moabite women. Naomi's husband passed away first, and later both of her sons died, too. Neither of her sons had any children at the time they died. Therefore, Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws were going to go back to Bethlehem, but one decided to stay in Moab. The other one was Ruth, and she would not leave Naomi, so they both went back to Judah. The people there greeted Naomi, but she told them not to call her Naomi, but Mara, because the Lord had made her bitter. (Ruth 1:20) That was how Naomi felt after losing her husband and two sons, but was it God that caused her bitterness?
Many people think they have the right to become bitter when tragedies happen to them. They think there is no other way to react to their pain and loss. However, we do have a choice. We can become bitter, or we can become better. I do not think God makes anyone bitter. When He allows a tragedy to come into our life, He wants us to choose to let it make us better, as we learn to trust in God more and to find the joy of the Lord. I know this is hard, but it is very possible, since it is God's will. I am sure we all know people who have become bitter, and their bitterness destroys their lives. The opposite is also true. We all know people who have gone through terrible pain and grief, but it has made them better Christians and servants of the Lord. That is my prayer for all of us. Let's choose to become better, not bitter.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ruth 2-4.
Many people think they have the right to become bitter when tragedies happen to them. They think there is no other way to react to their pain and loss. However, we do have a choice. We can become bitter, or we can become better. I do not think God makes anyone bitter. When He allows a tragedy to come into our life, He wants us to choose to let it make us better, as we learn to trust in God more and to find the joy of the Lord. I know this is hard, but it is very possible, since it is God's will. I am sure we all know people who have become bitter, and their bitterness destroys their lives. The opposite is also true. We all know people who have gone through terrible pain and grief, but it has made them better Christians and servants of the Lord. That is my prayer for all of us. Let's choose to become better, not bitter.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Ruth 2-4.