“Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah, and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.” – Ruth 1:3-5
Over the last month, we have discussed several Old Testament characters who displayed amazing acts of courage. That is the reason their stories were documented and recorded, so that anyone who has a Bible can read their amazing stories, even now.
What we know by now is that courage is not a characteristic that is always easy to act upon. It is admirable, it is inspirational, and it is motivational, but it is far from easy. That is the reason so many struggle to choose it. But another reason some struggle is because of the mindset they have and the perspective they have chosen to adopt.
Naomi is the perfect example of someone who looked beyond what had happened to her. Here was a woman who lost the three most important men in her life. Her husband and her two sons all died.
Ruth 1:3-5 says, “Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah, and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.”
After these deaths, Naomi blamed God. She thought the hand of God had turned against her. But even still, she had the faith to keep moving forward.
My friend, you will never live the life God intended for you if you see yourself as nothing more than a victim. As a believer, we know God is NEVER against us. God may allow things to happen in our lives that we do not like. He may allow things that cause us a great deal of pain. But He is never against us.
When difficult circumstances arise, there is only one question: what are you going to do? Are you going to see yourself as a victim that God is against? Or are you going to use these things to grow closer to God, to find out what He wants you to learn and where He wants to take you from here?
The choice is yours…what are you going to do?