This evening, I read the first chapter of the book of Ruth, found in the Bible.

It’s a well-told story. One that I know about, even before I’ve studied it. 

This book begins by introducing a woman called Naomi. Her name means “Pleasant.”Initially, Naomi lives in a town called Bethlehem, in the Kingdom of Judah, with her husband and two sons.

Yet, when famine breaks out, Naomi and her family relocate about sixty miles to a place called Moab. Naomi’s sons marry Moabite women: Orpah and Ruth.

Though the family escapes famine, tragedy still finds them. Naomi’s husband dies and, later, her two sons die, leaving her devastated and in need of provision.

Naomi responds to this tragedy by setting off on a journey to Bethlehem. The Bible says:

“When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there.”

Ruth 1: 6, NIV.

She had heard about a miracle. An end to famine, because of the Lord. 

Yet, in the next few sentences, we see that Naomi’s heart does not appear to be set on the God of miracles. She says:

“Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons— would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!”

Ruth 1: 12 – 13, NIV, my emphasis.

This is a woman who says she has lost hope.

Naomi wants to walk back to Judah, alone. I don’t know what she was thinking – maybe she was trying to work out how she could grab some part of a miracle, using her own strength. A little food, perhaps. 

She pushes her daughter’s-in-law away and even compares her own grief to theirs.

Her words show that she has a bitter heart. She is angry at God, commenting that the Lord has “turned his hand against her.”

When I read this I felt God speak to my heart:

“Don’t forget what you already have while you are chasing after another miracle. Don’t forget God’s current provision while chasing for another provision.”

Naomi could not see that the Lord had provided her with family: two living daughters-in-law tat were willing to go with her to Judah. She was not alone. Yet, she pushes God and His very real and present blessings aside and hunts for another miracle. 

She does not see what she has.

This got me wondering two things: 

1. Do I appreciate what I have, right now? Even when I am waiting for future miracles?

2. Do I chase miracles, or do I worship the miracle-giver, in every season?

I don’t want to be someone who storms through life focused on the next thing. I want to appreciate what I have now. I want to stay focused on God, now.

At this moment. This season. While I don’t have the miracle I am hoping for.

If I am honest, I struggle to do that. The Holy Spirit is really challenging me at the moment, encouraging me to focus on God rather than circumstances or provision itself.

I feel God saying: “Don’t underestimate what you have now.”

I have a loving husband, two very cute and healthy kids. Beautiful friends. A home. Food in my belly. Heating. Beds with warm duvets. Clothes. (I could go on…)

What do you have, right now? What blessings has God gifted you with, in this season?

For Naomi – she had Orpah and Ruth. Even when Orpah returned to her own mother, Ruth could not be persuaded to leave Naomi’s side. The Bible says:

“When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.”

Ruth 1: 18, NIV.

This verse makes me wonder how stubborn Naomi was! When we are bitter and angry with God because of our circumstances our perspective is warped and we become stubborn in our opinions. 

Naomi’s heart was not open to God’s provision of companionship. Naomi’s heart was not open to the incredible miracle that was to come.

Naomi’s heart was stubborn and hard. The use of the word “urging” makes me think of urgency. Naomi was all-consumed by her seemingly urgent need and blind to the grief of her daughter-in-law, certainly blind to the path God was leading her on.

When we have a bitter root in our hearts, – when we are offended at God, because of our circumstances – we panic. 

We see our needs and not others. We see our pain, not the pain of a friend in need. We can magnify our pain, rather than magnifying God.

The truth is: God is always with us and is especially present when we are grieving or broken-hearted. (See Psalm 34:18.)

I’m not saying forget your own pain. I’m not saying stuff down your needs. I’m saying: Give all of that to God, tell Him all about it. Be with Him now, in the middle of your struggle and allow Him to give you perspective instead of letting bitterness feed you blind.

Often, I focus on the miracle that I want rather than the one that gives out miracles. Earlier, I found myself thinking about a friend’s miracle, with a tinge of jealousy in my heart.

When we hear about other miracles, our own faith should be fueled. We should think “Wow, my God did that for her, won’t He do something amazing for me!”

God loves me just as much as He loves any other person I choose to compare myself to!

I need to make sure I am staying connected to God as He works out my story. 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss out on God’s blessings and miracles because I was too busy comparing myself to others. 

Here’s the thing: Comparison steals your joy because it steals your focus. 

Your focus should be on Jesus. My focus should be on Jesus. He is where we will find joy and peace and hope, in any circumstance. 

Is your focus on Jesus, or is it in comparison? Is your heart open to God’s plan, or has it been hardened by bitterness?

This first part of the story of Ruth ends with Naomi returning to Bethlehem.

The Bible reads:

“So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?””

Ruth 1: 19, NIV.

Naomi’s bitterness made her unrecognizable. She even asks people to call her “Mara” meaning “bitter.” (See verse 20.)

If I don’t want to be defined by bitterness, I have to dig the bitter root out of my heart.

I have to tell God that it exists and as Him for forgiveness. 

God loves me. He has a good plan for me. He is with me and He gives me so much, even at this very moment. I have an abundance of peace and joy in Him.

He is a good God and He is not against me. He is not in the business of creating terrible circumstances for me and excellent circumstances for my friends.

Suffering exists on this earth, because it is a world broken by sin and shame, but God is with me no matter what. 

He is with you, too.

Today I want to leave you with these thoughts:

– Are you worshiping God, or is your focus on a particular circumstance in your life?

– Are you busy blaming God for your ugly circumstance, or are you pressing in – loving Him with all you’ve got?

– Are you grateful for His blessings, or are you blind to them?

Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.