Dealing with tough seasons

”Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”
‭‭Ruth‬ ‭1‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Happy Monday family! Sending love and big hugs. If you’re going through a difficult time, l want to reassure you that He is still God. The winds and the waves will not destroy you. There may be water in the boat, everyone around you is also afraid, you’re terrified of what could happen but Jesus is with you. He is aware of how difficult it’s been my darling. He is aware of the nights you cry yourself to sleep and you wake up feeling helpless, that you get panic attacks and you worry about time not being on your side. Reminds me of Mary and Martha’s message to Jesus. “The one you love is sick.” If I love you l should show up quickly right? But Jesus did not speed to them as if He was as desperate as they were. He showed up on time. Time for a miracle is not 22:10 it is Jesus time. Hang in there darling!💞

I want to briefly share about something I’ve been studying on from the book of Ruth. I know we read it to quote about Boaz and do intense prayers “I will marry! My Boaz is coming this year! Boaz come now! I locate you by fire! If you don’t come I will die!” 😂 but there’s so much more to learn from the story. Naomi is our centre of discussion today. She is an embittered woman who experiences a tragic loss. Her trauma was built overtime. We may relate with this, one problem after the other. The collapse of Naomi’s world did not happen in a day but was spread out over years of heartache and tragedy. Naomi’s grief was a long time coming, the buildup of years of major disappointments, setbacks, and losses. Maybe just like you ?

When it rains, it pours.” The bills are due, the car repossessed , a sick child, a crazy teen, Or maybe a loved one’s death, a cancer diagnosis, and job loss all crash in on you within that span of a few weeks. Many of us can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed by suffering. You try to move forward, but the blows just keep coming and you feel beaten down and abandoned. You seem to not be getting rest from life’s blows. That’s Naomi. A heart that had endured so much that from trauma came a name – Mara. What name did you come out of trauma with? Don’t call me Vanessa , call me the once rejected one? Or Don’t call me Joseph, call me the hated one? Don’t call me Hannah, call me the barren one! Don’t call me Jesus, call me the betrayed One? What is the name you keep calling yourself because you faced a tough situation?

As we lay the foundation of this topic, ask yourself, are you known as a daughter of God or do you live by another name? The rape doesn’t define you! It’s not your identity! The failed marriage is not your identity!!! You are not the broke one! You are not Mara! You are Naomi! How can we call you Naomi if you see yourself as Mara? How can people keep saying you’re beautiful and your response is “I’m actually very ugly!?” Who are you? Selah ..