潔恩在她第一任丈夫過世後再婚，可是她第二任丈夫的孩子們卻不願意接受她。後來，她第二任丈夫也過世了，他的子女因潔恩依舊住在他們的老家而憎恨她，甚至因為潔恩得到丈夫留下的一小筆生活費而指責她偷竊了他們的遺產。可想而知，潔恩深受打擊，越發感到怨懟悲苦。

拿俄米的丈夫帶全家人搬遷到摩押地，結果他和兩個兒子都客死異鄉。多年後，拿俄米帶著媳婦路得，一無所有地返回伯利恆。全城的人一陣騷動，問道：「這是拿俄米嗎？」（路得記1章19節）但拿俄米要大家別再叫她「拿俄米」（甜的意思），而要叫她「瑪拉」（苦的意思），她說：「我滿滿地出去，耶和華使我空空地回來。」（20-21節）

你的名字也叫「苦」嗎？你是否因朋友、家人或健康惡化而感到失望。現實狀況不符期待，是否也令你怨懟悲苦？

拿俄米帶著悲苦回到伯利恆，但她還是回到了自己的家鄉。同樣地，你也可以「回家」，回到耶穌的身邊，祂是路得的後裔，是降生於伯利恆的救主。你可以全然信靠祂的慈愛！

最終，上帝除去了拿俄米心中的悲苦，以祂完美的計劃使拿俄米滿心喜樂（4章13-22節）。祂也可以將你的愁苦變為喜樂。現在就回轉歸向祂吧！

Jen remarried after her first husband died. The children of her new husband never accepted her, and now that he’s passed away too, they hate her for remaining in their childhood home. Her husband left a modest sum to provide for her; his kids say she’s stealing their inheritance. Jen is understandably discouraged, and she’s grown bitter.

Naomi’s husband moved the family to Moab, where he and their two sons died. Years later, Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty-handed, except for her daughter-in-law Ruth. The town was stirred and asked, “Can this be Naomi?” (Ruth 1:19). She said they shouldn’t use that name, which means “my pleasant one.” They should call her “Mara,” which means “bitter,” because “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty” (vv. 20–21).  

Is there a chance your name is Bitter? You’ve been disappointed by friends, family, or declining health. You deserved better. But you didn’t get it. Now you’re bitter.

Naomi came back to Bethlehem bitter, but she came back. You can come home too. Come to Jesus, the descendant of Ruth, born in Bethlehem. Rest in His love.

In time, God replaced Naomi’s bitterness with the joyful fulfillment of His perfect plan (4:13–22). He can replace your bitterness too. Come home to Him.