A Woman with Depression

If anyone ever had a reason to be suffering from circumstance-induced depression, it was Naomi:

- There was a famine in the home country.

- She and her husband, sons, and their wives had moved to a foreign country where there was food.

- Her husband died, leaving her a widow. She had no means of taking care of herself, let alone anyone else.

- Her two sons died, leaving their wives as childless widows.

- Naomi was telling her daughters-in-law to go back to their families of origin (which would leave her COMPLETELY alone)

- She changed her name from Naomi (meaning "pleasant") to Mara (meaning "bitter").

- Not even God could be counted upon to help her out. "(T)he LORD's hand has gone out against me...The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."

The opening of this story makes you want to close the book, crawl back in bed, throw the covers over your head and ask, "What's the use?!"

But I encourage you NOT to stop there. The story, all of which can be read in about the time it takes you to watch a 1/2 hour television show, takes some pretty incredible turns.

God DOES show up. God IS working on Naomi's behalf, even when she thinks He isn't.

Without giving away the ending, God uses someone who is already in Naomi's life to bring GREAT blessing and prosperity. Naomi is so fixated upon her trouble and calamity, she is completely missing the friends she already has.

And in the not too distant future, God will bring another person, Boaz, across her path, to redeem her story and her fortunes, and her future, and her family.

But enough from me. Read this short little drama for yourself in the book of Ruth.

Grace & peace