It seems impossible to have hope when you are filled with pain and loss and your dreams have been shattered. Although it is difficult to believe that God is near, His sovereignty never sleeps. When our pain is the deepest and our doubt the greatest, God remains with us.
In this passage, Naomi is facing a crisis of faith. Many today understand and share the depths of her pain. She has lost her husband and her two sons. What should be a hopeful feeling to return to her homeland, Bethlehem – the home of her God, her faith, and her people – has left her empty and in despair. Naomi, which means pleasant, now wishes to be called Mara, which means bitter.
In her sadness, Naomi believes that God is punishing her. When faced with despair, our hearts, just like Naomi, can cry out to God.
I am bitter, Lord, because You have dealt very bitterly with me.
How can this be Your plan, Lord? Have I not served You faithfully? Do You even care?
How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? – Psalm 13:1-2
God does not just extend the fullness of His grace and overflowing love during the good times in our lives. God can use our doubts, our fears, and our pain for His glory. Nothing is wasted or without purpose. We can be assured that all of our struggles and our pain are in the loving hands of a loving Father.
Naomi, in her pain, called herself Mara, because she failed to recognize God’s grace. However, God, in His grace, blessed Naomi with a loving husband for many years. In His grace, Naomi and her husband birthed two strong sons who were then able to support and care for her after her husband’s death. In His grace, her sons were married to women, her daughters-in-law, who honored and respected her despite their Moabite upbringing. In His grace, Naomi was able to return to her home and her faith, in Bethlehem, after God had delivered the land from a severe famine.
In God’s grace, Naomi was never alone. She possessed the love and devotion of her daughter-in-law Ruth who shared her same struggles with pain and loss. In His grace, Naomi would become grandmother to Ruth’s first-born, Obed, and share in the majestic ancestry of the lineage of her Messiah, Jesus Christ. God’s grace is exceedingly more abundant than our circumstances, our past, or our pain.
God’s grace pours out love, kindness, favor, and forgiveness to all who place their trust in Him. His grace changes everything. Our plan for our life is often drastically different from God’s purpose for our life. The challenge for believers is to filter our every experience through the love of Jesus Christ and trust His perspective, not our own. Believers must be careful not to judge God’s love for us by our circumstances. Grounding our lives in God’s promises in His Word gives us the confidence to trust His will and His plan for our lives.
But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me. – Psalm 13:5-6
Naomi thought she had lost everything. She thought her family had perished. She thought God had afflicted her. Naomi was wrong. Everything she believed had been lost and perished was restored as a part of God’s plan because of His great love. There are no insignificant people or circumstances in God’s story. Even when we doubt it, God’s love for His people is eternally perfect, unconditional, and inexhaustible until the end of ends.
Have your circumstances derailed your faith in God? How might your emotions be limiting your ability to recognize God’s grace in your life? How might God be using your trials to strengthen your faith and reveal His glory? How can we pray for you as you seek out God’s grace in your life?
Peace and grace to you,
Terria serves on the LGG encourager and social media teams. She lives in Virginia with her husband. She is a proud mother of two beautiful girls in college. Her passionate goal is to ignite and empower a
generation of millennial women to grab hold of God’s truth and cling to it. She can be tracked down hard at work in busy hospitals listening to patients’ stories, while sharing the lessons and love that God has poured out in her life. Despite the sometimes chaotic circumstances of Terria’s life, God always shows Himself strong and loving.
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Hello !
Well God has been testing me for a looooong time … i’ve seen His love and mercy in every circumstance… but at this point of my life I’m dealing with doubts… I’m a dentist… I’m studying pediatric dentistry and … I’m working at a dental office… I don’t feel secure… I always doubt of everything… I am now thinking to quit .. cause I don’t feel capable … I ask God for help cause He spoke to me through someone that He was going to use me … but my doubts and insecurities are destroying me… I feel useless and I don’t feel Him anymore… is like… I know He’s there but I feel alone…
I pray for you MJ. You are not alone. I pray that your insecurities and doubts will be set free. Please don’t quit, those children need you. You are capable and not useless. I pray these in His holy name.
Good morning MJ! I too have struggled and still struggle with doubt which causes fear. The more I’ve learned to lean on Jesus during these times the more I feel calm and secure and confident. Trust and believe and pray and we will be praying for you. Our Father made you and has confidence in you so take a breath and say a prayer or find a scripture that you can say throughout the day. You can do this, and if he has a different path for you just trust him. Hugs to and prayers to you!!
Mondee ~LGG ENCOURAGER
Boy this hit home!!! My last 4 years have consisted of my husband having knee replacement, open heart surgery, colon surgery in which we thought it was cancer( it wasn’t !!), 2 blood clots in each lung, 2 rounds of chemo, lost his job, in which he can’t work anymore because of health issues, I lost my job in October and the list seems to go on. I have had many times when I have cried out to God and have wondered – why????? It has been very hard to keep trusting and have faith, but I keep reading his word, reading devotionals like this and praying for God to keep me faithful to him. I know I’m not alone, he is with me, but boy can Satan work in my mind if I let him!!!
My heart goes out to you. This past five years have had its share of troubles . The past two years my husband had his knees replaced .
I found out he was cheating on me ,after 35 years of marriage. But our God gave me grace to stand (eph 6) in the midst of the storm. Also He gave me
Isa 43 to hang onto . It says how much He loves us. But when my mind wanted to think on things it shouldn’t his word said do NOT dwell on the things of the past,behold I’m doing a new thing.
Jesus really spoke to my heart and said to stay with him ,that things were coming and my husband would need my help.
Well … Jan 3 we went to the hospital for a pain in his side and after they did a scan they found a tumor in his lungs and his liver is 80 percent cancer. It is in his blood and bones .
We did not have any idea he was so sick . No signs at all.
Now he is doing chemo and radiation to his brain. It is hard to watch a strong man ,fade away to being weak and frail.
As long as we stay in today and don’t let our minds go on rabbit trails it’s ok . Take ever thought captive. Stay close to Jesus . Because He truly us our strength where we are weak ..
MJ, Satan wants you to believe the lies that he is putting in your thoughts and your words are so very powerful and strong enough to stop him from making you believe this about yourself. Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart so is he.
God’s word clearly says: Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.
MJ, I was married to my husband for 18 years who was also a dentist, and in the dental field he use to always say, how low dentist self esteem was because no-one ever like going to see them and it was depressing. I know the enemy works this to the detriment of many. My husband took his own life last May, and “So as a man thinketh , that he is!”My husband never could “get” that his words were cursing on himself. You have been given a wonderful mind and talent to be a dentist, and a field that you could impact many patients by your testimony. I pray you seek God’s word about the lies of the enemy and our words and watch God give you inner peace joy and fulfillment. May God bless you abundantly! RA
I know the fear of doubt and insecurity. I am nearing the end of nursing school and have been a respiratory therapist for almost twenty years. I really want to stay working in the emergency room, but I have been turned down for many jobs because I will be a “new graduate nurse”. My co-workers believe in me and tell me what a great nurse I will be. It is so hard when you know you will be good and it is your dream job, but others who don’t know me don’t seem to give me a chance. I did apply for an internship in the ICU and it looks promising. I’m trying to stay positive of this opportunity. It may be the opportunity that God has set before me. Pray that I get this job and it is where I am supposed to be at this moment. I am trying to see the blessing in this.
Good morning Misty! Have faith! Our God is good and will provide for you. It’s so hard to understand all the details of his plans for our lives, but trust Him, and everything will fall into place where it needs to be. God is good!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
My sister temporarily lost custody of her son yesterday, based not on evidence, but the lies spewing from her ex husband. The judge was far from impartial. He would not let her provide any proof, evidence or anything. The judge even ruled that she cannot contact her son in any form. None of it makes sense. My sister is a strong Christian, a good mother. She answered all of the attorney’s questions with honesty and truth. She has followed all of the previous custody agreements to the letter. Her ex husband lied and exaggerated when testifying. He has 9 contempt charges for violating the previous custody agreement one of which started this mess as he would not return her son to her. She is doubting God and feels as if he is punishing her. Please pray for her. She is bitter and scared. Her faith is shaken. Pray that God reveals the truth. Pray that God will strengthen my sister. As I read the blog this morning this is all I can think of . My sister is Naomi right now. Changing her name to Mara. Feeling that God has abandoned her. Asking why God? Please pray for her.
Angie I’m so sorry to hear about your sister and her children! Father, please wrap your loving arms around Angie’s sister and family. Draw them to you and comfort their fears with your almighty love. I pray this Mom will find strength to run to you for guidance. Father, you see all, you know all, so I pray that you show your compassion and help this family get through these hard times. In your name I pray. Amen
Hugs and prayers to you!
Mondee~LGG Encourager
My heart just cries out for your sister and her son, and for you, as well, as you come along side her in this. I have no words or guidance for the circumstances, but I pray that the Almighty God of truth will bring all of the efforts of darkness out into the light and that all truth will be revealed. I trust that God will encounter this judge and will work all things for ultimate good in this. I, too, am in a season of enduring without my son, and I’ve found through submitting to God, studying His word, crying out to Him and being honest with Him about all the darkness that I’m feeling, even my feeling toward Him, that He has done more work in me than I could ever have imagined. Doing that is immeasurably hard when your heart is so hurt, but I encourage you to help her to do just that. “Nothing conduces more to satisfy a gracious soul under an affliction than the consideration of the hand of God in it.”-Matthew Henery I will certainly be praying for you both.
Annie, my prayers are with your sister at this difficult time. May God give her strength to continue her fight.
I can definitely relate to today’s devotional and truly appreciate it. Just as Terria states, “God’s grace is more abundant than our circumstances, our past and our pain”. I am struggling with allowing my circumstances to steal my joy and peace. I relate to Naomi in that I feel like I am being punished, but what I must do is trust God’s plans for my life and realize that this season will pass and things will get better. I should not feel like I am slighted or that God’s love for me is not enough, but know that God may be using my circumstances in order to bring me closer to Him.
Diera,
The struggle is real! We all have had our Naomi moments. There are those times when life just doesn’t make sense, and we struggle to understand what God is doing. It is those times when I find that it is most pressing for me to draw even closer to God. Even when I don’t want to. God can handle my and your anger, doubts, and fear. None of it takes Him by surprise.
In John20:29, Jesus says “…blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”, so I focus on His promised blessings. I remember that whatever hard thing I am going through, I am not alone. Whatever hard thing I am facing will be a testimony to encourage and help those who have to endure after me. Whatever hard thing I am struggling with, I am deeply loved.
Cling to God’s truth, Diera, even in your doubt and discouragement. Cling to His Word even when it rings hollow. Cling to God even when you have no idea what He is doing in your life. God is not only the God of our mountains, but He is the God of our valleys as well. It may not make sense now, but He will reveal all things in His time. I will be praying for you and with you as you endure your journey through the valley!
~Terria
Well, this morning it hit me just how much of an eye opener this week’s study has been for me. My husband and I are in the process of buying a home and just a few days ago I was making the statement that” it wouldn’t matter if I lost my house or even all of my possessions, because I still have everything that actually matters the most; my husband and children, my family and friends, and my God.” Yes, I said it in THAT order!!Today I realized that I am Naomi befor her affliction. That I tend to find my fullness and my satisfaction of this life in the comfort of my husband and my children and my extended family/friends. God is alway there and is my comfort; I pray and worship all the time, bible study everyday, and feel that I am in close relationship with Him, but truly, I have been finding my security and satisfaction in everyone and everything else. And when my husband or children wish to do something that I feel isn’t quite right with God, I tend to go along with my family instead of standing on and standing up for God’s word, like Naomi.
This was the message I received this morning:
“Do not find your fullness, nor look for your satisfaction in all that is pursued in this flesh. Do not even look to your husband or your children for your fullness. For they are bust dust and so very uncertain are their own lives. They certainly are gifts/blessings from God, but certainly also can be taken second by second. Search only for your fullness and satisfaction in the Almighty, your comfort in Jesus, and your purpose in doing the will of God. There, you will find true and everlasting fullness; a fullness that will withstand all of the afflictions afforded to the flesh. Enjoy your gifts thoroughly whilst you have them, committing them to God and thanking Him for them. But let them not take the place of God in your heart in any way. Remembering that the God who gives is also the God who takes away. Just as you belong to Him, so they do as well.”
Where will my fullness and security be if they are taken from me today or tomorrow? As a full time mother, I would be just as Naomi, grief stricken to the core, with little wealth, no income, and no purpose. I know in my heart that right now being wife and mother is my ministry, but this revelation is something that I’m going to have to take to heart. I don’t have the answers yet, but I certainly have some praying and thinking to do about the future.
Wow Kira! God is really speaking to you this morning! You have had some real amazing revelations. You are not alone in your desire for stability and security with your family. It is a daily struggle for many of us keeping our family from becoming idols in our life. But you are definitely on the right track by keeping God first, praying, and hearing Him speak to you. Thank you for being so transparent and sharing! We will be praying for you!
~Terria
My husband and I have had the privilege of caring for his 88 year old mother. She went to Heaven about a month ago. Although I feel the loss, my husband still struggles daily with this loss. Please pray that he can eventually move from loss to love and not let bitterness set in. Thank you for your prayers.
Joy,
I am so sorry for you and your husband’s loss. Your husband must be devastated. Praying for both of you as you grieve the loss of your mother-in-law.
Father God, You are our comforter and our strength. Lord, I lift up Joy and her husband who are overcome with grief. Lord, may they find You a very present help during this extremely difficult time. Give them Your comfort, certainty when they struggle with doubt, and strength to endure this pain. Lord, make their faith strong and protect their hearts from anger or bitterness. May Your love and peace bless them as they endure. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
~Terria
Thank you Terria! Great message today.
I’m so glad it blessed you, Jennifer. I, just like Naomi, have been devastated by life’s circumstances, so I was really encouraged just by writing about God’s grace. It has been an amazing study…and it’s only been a week!!!
~Terria
I struggle, really struggle….I have been an empty nester for about 5 years now…..I have health issues that have in part, caused me to quit my part-time job & even effect any ministry opportunities at church, etc……there are relationship issues going on in my marriage….in a nutshell, my husband & I are “at the same play, but we’re on different pages of the program.” I ask the Lord, “What am I supposed to be doing at this stage of life?” I want to be doing something productive. My questions are real and tough — I feel like I have tougher ones now than I did as a young adult, in some ways. I know what I am supposed to think and respond with, but I am so perplexed. And I know the Enemy is real, and working……
Wow Jo,
I am so sorry that you are having such a difficult time right now. It seems as if you are being attacked in all aspects of your life. It must be exhausting and frustrating.
Don’t give up! Keep fighting to see God’s grace and love in your life even if it is in the smallest moments! Focus on all of His promises!
Cling to what you know is true…God will NEVER leave you or forsake you. God knows the plans He has for you – plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God will supply ALL your needs from His glorious riches. When we come to God, weary and burdened, He will give us rest for our souls. God works for the good of those who love Him in ALL things. NOTHING can separate you from the love of God.
I know that His Word is much easier to say than it is to believe, but believe it we must! God is sovereign over your life and moving in your situation even when you don’t see it. God’s sovereignty NEVER sleeps. Please don’t give up hope! Thank you for being so forthcoming about your struggles. We will be praying for you as you endure this tough time!
Father God, I lift up Jo to You. Protect Jo’s heart and mind from the enemy. Give her the strength to endure the battle she faces. Encourage her and reveal Your great love for her. Empower her to continue to fight the good fight of faith. Give her Your divine rest and peace as she patiently waits on You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
~Terria
I am loving this study! I have always loved the story of Ruth and Naomi, and being able to dig deeper into it is fascinating!
I am currently going through a time of trials and testing. I am giving it all to God daily and it’s such a blessing. The calmness I feel, when another bad thing got a out of nowhere, is amazing and such a relief. I often feel like Jesus is right there besides me, arm around my shoulder saying, “Don’t worry Susan, I’ve got this!” I’m so thankful I’ve grown in my faith, because even if all this happened six months ago, I know I would have handled it horribly, so much so I would be called Mara.
I really appreciate this study. Right now, I feel like Naomi. On Valentine’s Day this year, my husband and I learned that I was expecting. Such a wonderful blessing after a miscarriage in the fall of 2015 and more than a year of trying. Because I was high risk, they watched me closely and tested me for a lot of things and our baby was perfect. I fought fear with scripture and spoke life over the life growing inside of me. On April 12th, in my 12th week, we went in for a sonogram as we had been doing bi-weekly. We learned that our baby’s heart had literally just stopped beating, as baby measured right in track to the day. We had planned to announce that weekend (Easter) that we were joyously expecting. For two weeks, I would not let any thought of death or doubt enter my mind. We prayed and asked God (our God who performs miracles, who resurrects life!) to breathe life back into our baby. We spoke life and had a super natural faith. How wonderful it would be for this doctor and her staff, and anyone else we came across to hear a modern-day miracle testimony!
Sadly, my world came crumbling down last Thursday when labor began. My husband and I delivered a perfectly formed, beautiful baby boy, Tobias James. That night I also lost consciousness and stopped breathing and ended up in the ER. The next day, at home, labor began again and late that Friday night, the placenta and gestational sac was delivered. This is the hardest loss I have ever dealt with and I feel just as Naomi did. I feel like I am being punished, maybe my faith wasn’t enough, maybe God won’t hear me and answer my prayers. I feel like my faith is weak and everything hopeless. I know God is good, but I can’t see why he allows me to go through this. Why he allows my children here with us to hurt, why my babies die. I am having a hard time seeing how beauty can come from these ashes. My heat is broken.
I hope to stick with this study and gain something from it. I need to start somewhere and I hope this is where.
Dear S,
I am so very sorry for your loss. I can’t even begin to imagine what you are going through. Please know this my dear sister in Christ, I will be praying for you and for your husband. I pray PEACE may blanket you and that you will feel the Lord’s embrace as He guides you through this tragic season in your lives. I pray for physical healing for you, and emotional healing for you both. Just please, please don’t think this happened because you were lacking faith. I pray that God will someday reveal the reason for this tragedy, but remember that He does work everything for His glory. God bless you and your family.
As I read through the comments and stories I can relate to every one of them even the lost of a baby girl a very difficult time in my life…These scriptures came to my spirit..
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to hurt and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones. A time to embrace and a time to turn away. A time to search and a time to quit searching. A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear and a time to mend. A time to be quiet and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate. A time for war and a time for peace. What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
We travel through seasons in our lives but rest assure that God has engraved our names in the palm of HIS hand (Isaiah 49: 16)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgement and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].( 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP)
I have written your names and your situations in a journal and I will be praying for you and please pray for me… I know that when we come close to God, he will come close to us.
Stay hopeful.
God’s love for us is not determined by our circumstances.
Ruth 1:21 “I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty .”
“Unbelief” see’s empty, while” Faith” see’s full!!!!!!!!!!
In Naomi’s “thinking” empty described her situation, however, she was far more full than she could ever begin to think. Ruth would prove to be the greatest blessing of all!
Last yr I was dealing leg pain pretty much confined to home but I did end up having spine surgery which t to care of it I had A very long recovery Now I am dealing with weakness in my legs which they could possibly that has to do with some medication which they have changed but it well take time It is so hard to remember last year and feel the same thing will happen again. I have a wonderful godly husband who has been their for me along with my 3 daughters but it’s very hard to not to think about what happened last year and thinks it’s going to happen again Iam having trouble with blood pressure do to the stress
Dear Anita I commit you unto the might hands of our God. May he heal your body and strengthen your spirit. I pray that calamity would not occur a second time. You are hidden in the hollow of his hands. God bless you honey. Amen
Hello, this has been very relevant to my life currently. I am struggling in my marriage and considering seperating from my husband. I’ve been married 7 years and the last 3 have been very stressful and I don’t feel connected in any way to my husband anymore. I have two small children (under 3) and am constantly overwhelmed by motberhood. We recently moved cities and I have no friends or home church yet. I know I need to see God’s Grace in my life but I just don’t know how? Where do I even start? I feel like he’s very distant from me. I feel like I’ve tried to love on my husband even when I get nothing in return and nothing seems to work. I need a breakthrough. Please pray that I may find purpose in this period of my life and that I can feel hope for my marriage. Thank you.