Bible Besties | Naomi

Today’s Bible Besties devotion is about Naomi.

“Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.”

Ruth 1:20

Devotion for Today

Naomi had had a rough life. First, her husband takes her away from her home. Then he passes away. Then their kids died. Naomi told them to call her Mara because she was bitter.

That said, she heard the whispers. God had blessed her people with food. Having nothing left for her in the land of Moab, she started the journey home. With her were her two widowed daughters-in-law. Before they went too far, she told them they didn’t need to come. They could go back to their own families just as she was returning to hers. Orpah went, but Ruth was determined to go with Naomi.

Once they reached her homeland, Naomi was greeted by her old friends. They were all thrilled to see her. But she didn’t care. She was still licking her wounds.

So why Naomi?

Why would we want to make friends with a bitter old woman who had nothing left?

What I love about Naomi is that she kept doing the next right thing.

She didn’t feel like she had anything left to live for, but she kept putting one foot in front of the other.

When she left Moab, she had no idea that Ruth would go with her and they would be redeemed by Boaz and live out their days comfortably. But she still kept doing the next right thing.

That’s what I love about Naomi.

Have you ever been where she was?

Hopeless?

If you ever find yourself there, I hope you’ll think of Naomi and keep doing the next right thing. When we do that, God can bless us in ways we would never imagine.

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