“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. Ruth 1:20

Naomi changed her name because of the bitterness and pain she felt. She lost her husband and her 2 sons. She felt that God was punishing her because of the grief she was experiencing. It wasn’t that she was turning away from God because of what she was going through, it was just that she didn’t understand what she was going through. Nor did she know what her future held for her. Her faith and trust in God was wavering.
I can relate as I know some of you can too. We face some very difficult situations. Things that throw us off our square completely. We might become so distraught in our anguish that we too might want to change our name to represent the pain we are going through or to represent the fear we have of the unknown. But we have to remember our connection with the one that will deliver us from our fears, our pain and our confusion. God is a ever present resource to lean on.
God knows what we’re going through. And just like he knows what we’re going through, he also knows how we’re going to get through it. It’s about trusting and believing. I know it’s easier said than done but what other choice do we have. Worrying, crying or being upset about our situation does not change what we’re experiencing. It just magnifies the situation and makes it worse.
Today when you’re mind goes to worrying or replaying things that upset you or plays tricks about situations you don’t even know if it happened or not, change the thought. Yes, as simple as that. Change the thought. When you feel that feeling welling up inside you say, “God is my strength. God is my refuge. My situation is being resolved by the Almighty!” Try it. I’ve been doing it and it feels like my load has been lightened.
Know that whatever it is you’re going through that God loves you so much. He will never take you through anything that he hasn’t already planned to turn into something good just for you.

I love you with the love of God!

Kelly