From Bitterness to Blessing: Naomi's Journey of Hope

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Faithfulness in Our Setbacks

Life often brings us a series of setbacks, not just one, and sometimes it feels like the blows keep coming—loss, disappointment, and pain piling up until we wonder how much more we can take. Naomi’s story in Ruth 1 shows us that even the faithful can be left reeling from loss, questioning why God allowed such hardship. Yet, in the midst of her emptiness and grief, God’s faithfulness is still at work, preparing the way for restoration. When you face your own series of setbacks, remember that God is not absent; He is present, working through your pain to bring about a greater purpose, even when you cannot see it yet. [24:36]

Ruth 1:3-5, 19-20 (NIV)
“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… 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?’ ‘Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.’”

Reflection: When you look back at a season of repeated setbacks, can you identify a way God was present or working behind the scenes, even if you didn’t see it at the time?

Day 2: The Power of Testimony and Hearing God’s Goodness

Sometimes, all it takes is hearing about God’s goodness to spark hope and faith in a weary heart. Naomi heard, even from a distance, that the Lord was providing for His people, and that news was enough to move her to action. Your testimony—what God has done for you—can be the very thing that encourages someone else to keep going or to return to God. Don’t underestimate the power of sharing your story; faith comes by hearing, and your words may be the lifeline someone else needs today. [18:43]

Romans 10:17 (KJV)
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Reflection: Who in your life needs to hear about God’s faithfulness from your own story today, and how can you share it with them?

Day 3: Embracing Those Who Stay When Others Leave

Not everyone who starts the journey with you will finish it by your side. Naomi experienced the pain of people turning back, but she also experienced the blessing of Ruth’s steadfast loyalty. Instead of focusing on who left, God calls us to recognize and give thanks for those who remain—those who walk with us through the hardest seasons. Cherish the “Ruths” in your life, and be that kind of friend to others, journeying together through both sorrow and joy. [28:48]

1 John 2:19 (NIV)
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”

Reflection: Who has stood by you through your toughest times, and how can you express your gratitude or support them in return this week?

Day 4: There Is Purpose in Your Pain

Trials and tribulations are not just random misfortunes; they are often the very path God uses to shape us, strengthen us, and prepare us for what’s next. The Bible reminds us that suffering produces perseverance, character, and hope. Even when you feel pressed and crushed, God is using your pain to bring about a comeback, a testimony, and a deeper faith. Don’t let your pain rename you or define your future—let it be the soil where God grows something new and beautiful in your life. [24:36]

James 1:2-4 (NIV)
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

Reflection: What is one painful experience you are facing right now, and how might God be using it to grow your faith or prepare you for something greater?

Day 5: Keep Walking—Your Harvest Is Coming

No matter how bitter life has tasted, don’t give up—keep walking, keep “chewing,” and keep trusting that God is leading you toward a new season. Naomi and Ruth arrived in Bethlehem just in time for the barley harvest, a sign that God’s provision was waiting for them on the other side of their journey. Sometimes, you will reap blessings you didn’t even labor for, simply because you kept moving forward in faith. God promises to restore what was lost and to bring sweetness out of your bitterness if you don’t give up. [39:14]

Joel 2:25 (NIV)
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—the great locust and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm—my great army that I sent among you.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel tempted to give up? What would it look like for you to “keep walking” or “keep chewing” in faith this week?

Sermon Summary

Life often brings us moments that leave a bad taste in our mouths—experiences of disappointment, betrayal, or loss that linger long after the moment has passed. Naomi’s story in the book of Ruth is a powerful example of this. She endured famine, the loss of her husband and both sons, and found herself in a foreign land with nothing left but her two daughters-in-law. In her pain, Naomi even changed her name to Mara, meaning “bitter,” because she felt her life had been made bitter by God. Yet, even in her bitterness and emptiness, she heard a word of hope: that God was providing for His people once again in Bethlehem.

Sometimes, the only thing that keeps us moving forward is the testimony of someone who has experienced God’s provision. Naomi’s decision to return to Bethlehem was sparked by hearing that God was at work, reminding us of the power of sharing our stories of God’s faithfulness. Faith is often born in the hearing, and sometimes all it takes is a word of hope to help us take the next step.

But the journey back is rarely easy. Naomi faced a series of setbacks—loss after loss, disappointment after disappointment. Life often doesn’t just hand us one trial, but a succession of them, testing our endurance and faith. In these moments, it’s easy to focus on who or what we’ve lost, but God often provides at least one faithful companion for the journey, as Ruth was for Naomi. Rather than lamenting those who turn back, we are called to recognize and cherish those who remain.

Naomi’s return to Bethlehem was not just a physical journey, but a courageous act of faith. She arrived at the beginning of the barley harvest—a sign that God’s provision was waiting for her, even after all she had lost. Sometimes, God allows us to arrive just in time to reap a harvest we didn’t plant, to receive blessings we didn’t expect, and to experience restoration after seasons of bitterness.

The encouragement is to keep walking, keep chewing, even when life is sour. Just as a sour candy eventually gives way to sweetness, perseverance through trials can lead to unexpected joy and provision. God is faithful, even when we are not, and He can turn our bitterness into blessing if we refuse to give up.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Testimony and Hearing Faith is often ignited not by what we see, but by what we hear from others who have experienced God’s faithfulness. Naomi’s hope was rekindled by the simple news that God was providing for His people, reminding us that sharing our stories can be the spark that helps someone else take their next step toward God. Never underestimate the impact of your testimony—it may be the very thing that leads someone out of despair and back to hope. [16:44]
2. Purpose in Pain and Setbacks Life rarely gives us just one setback; often, trials come in waves, testing our endurance and faith. Yet, Scripture reminds us that tribulation and trials are not without purpose—they refine our character, deepen our dependence on God, and prepare us for a greater comeback. Our setbacks are often the soil in which God grows our greatest testimonies. [24:36]
3. Cherishing the Ones Who Stay It’s easy to focus on those who leave us in difficult seasons, but God often provides at least one faithful companion for the journey. Like Ruth to Naomi, these relationships are gifts of grace, reminders that we are not alone. Instead of lamenting those who turn back, we are called to recognize and give thanks for those who remain and walk with us through the valleys. [28:48]
4. Refusing to Be Defined by Bitterness Naomi’s pain was so deep that she allowed it to rename her, calling herself “Mara.” We, too, can be tempted to let our circumstances define our identity. Yet, God’s story for us is not finished in our bitterness; He can bring us to a place of harvest and restoration if we keep moving forward, refusing to let pain have the final word. [33:02]
5. Perseverance Turns Sour into Sweet Just as a sour candy eventually becomes sweet if you keep chewing, perseverance through life’s bitterness can lead to unexpected joy and provision. The call is to keep walking, keep trusting, and keep “chewing” even when life is hard, because God is able to turn our sorrow into sweetness and our loss into gain.

** [40:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:52] - Acknowledgments and Greetings
[04:16] - Scripture Reading: Ruth 1
[06:29] - “It Left a Bad Taste in My Mouth”
[08:44] - The Sour Patch Kids Story
[10:01] - When Life Leaves a Bad Taste
[12:08] - Naomi’s Journey to Moab
[14:38] - Hearing Good News in a Distant Land
[16:44] - The Power of Testimony
[18:43] - The Call to Go Back
[20:08] - Preparing for a Series of Setbacks
[25:22] - When People Turn Back
[28:48] - Cherishing Faithful Companions
[30:54] - Naomi’s Return and Bitterness
[34:59] - Arriving at the Barley Harvest
[36:14] - Walking the Journey Together
[39:14] - Keep Walking, Keep Chewing
[42:59] - Closing Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ruth 1:1-6, 19-20 — (The story of Naomi’s loss, her decision to return to Bethlehem, and her renaming herself “Mara” because of her bitterness.)

Observation Questions

What were the main events that led Naomi to feel her life had become bitter? (Ruth 1:1-6)
How did Naomi hear about God providing for His people in Bethlehem, even though she was far away in Moab? [14:38]
When Naomi returned to Bethlehem, how did the people react to her, and what did she say about her own identity? (Ruth 1:19-20)
According to the sermon, what was significant about Naomi and Ruth arriving at the beginning of the barley harvest? [34:59]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Naomi was so deeply affected by her losses that she wanted to change her name to “Mara”? What does this say about how pain can shape our identity? [31:42]
The sermon says that faith is often born in the hearing, not the seeing. Why might hearing someone else’s testimony be so powerful in difficult times? [16:44]
The sermon points out that Naomi had Ruth as a faithful companion, even when others turned back. What does this teach about the importance of relationships during seasons of loss? [28:48]
The preacher compared life’s trials to a sour candy that eventually becomes sweet if you keep chewing. What does this metaphor suggest about perseverance and God’s faithfulness? [40:24]

Application Questions

Naomi’s hope was rekindled by hearing that God was providing for His people. Is there a testimony or story you’ve heard that helped you keep going during a hard time? How can you share your own story to encourage someone else this week? [16:44]
The sermon talked about facing not just one setback, but a series of them. When you look back at your own life, can you identify a season where troubles seemed to come in waves? How did you respond, and what did you learn about God or yourself? [20:08]
Naomi could have focused on who left her, but instead, she journeyed with Ruth. Who is someone in your life who has “stayed” with you through hard times? How can you show gratitude or invest in that relationship this week? [28:48]
Have you ever let a painful experience or season “rename” you, like Naomi did? What would it look like to let God, rather than your pain, define your identity moving forward? [33:02]
The sermon encouraged us to “keep chewing” even when life is sour. What is one area of your life right now that feels bitter or disappointing? What would it mean for you to persevere and trust God in that area this week? [40:24]
Naomi arrived in Bethlehem just in time for the harvest—a blessing she didn’t expect. Have you ever experienced a “harvest” or blessing that came after a long season of loss or waiting? How did it change your perspective on God’s timing? [34:59]
The preacher said, “Don’t underestimate the power of your testimony.” What is one way you can be more open about God’s faithfulness in your life, even if you’re still waiting for things to get better? [16:44]

Sermon Clips

like my sister and dear friend said we've come all the way from the Raleigh Durm area to be with you this morning but I am at home i am from Cher South Carolina yes only about 130 miles in the other direction so I feel very comfortable in this place this morning please allow me to acknowledge two special women who could not be with us in person but are with us virtually and that is Sister Eleanor Hardy i had an opportunity to be with her and the women and the men on yesterday during the leadership seminar and so she's not with us in person but her daughter Nikki said that she's watching virtually and so I want to say good morning to her and tell her how much I miss her and praying God's blessings upon her i also want to acknowledge Mrs carolyn Bats who wanted to be here this morning as well but promised me she would be watching virtually and so I'm grateful for that as well as family members and friends from Florida to South Carolina and North Carolina who are tuning in this morning with you here in Mount Mariah and then to my dear friend and big sister the minister of music of the cow's temple am Zion church in Durham Mrs charita Mack Hind who knows anytime she opens her mouth she is going to bless my soul but listen she didn't just come for me this morning that's what she told you and that's half of the truth the fabulous four Charita Sheila Sen and Simone came down for a girls weekend and I just happen to be a part of the package deal and so they're worshiping we with me this morning but trust me they have toured all Charleston has to tour over the course of this weekend so I'm grateful to all four of them for being with me and to Mother Bittton and all of the women who have just gathered around me and taken care of me even before I got here praying for me thank you so much for your prayers they are allowing me to stand in this sacred space but Mount Mariah you have one question for me and that is is there a word from the Lord and I believe that there is if you will turn with me to the book of Ruth [00:01:50]

let's be honest the the way they overlooked you for the promotion on the job you came early and you left late and they promoted someone less qualified i know it left a bad taste in your mouth all of the hoops you had to jump through and hop over and crawl under to get your business off the ground it left a bad taste in your mouth in in that relationship when he or she told you you were the only one only to find out you were one of two i get it it left a bad taste in your mouth the fact that you gave all you had and they took all you had to give without saying thank you one time left a bad taste in your mouth i don't know about you but for the last 6 months it's it's bothered me that a lie can go around the world two times before truth can get her sneakers on i'm sorry but personally it's left a bad taste in my mouth [00:10:24]

now now Moab is not the ideal place for this family from Israel to relocate you see the Moabites and the Israelites did not get along the Bible tells us in Judges the 3rd chapter and the 28th verse that Moab was one of Israel's enemies and due to the mistreatment of the Israelites God declared that the Moabites and the Ammonites were permanently excluded from the assembly of the Lord since they had not shown hospitality to the Israelites on their way back from Egypt and although this is not the ideal place to settle a Limc just wants to survive naomi and her husband lived comfortably amongst the Moabites and made Moab their home for at least 10 years when tragedy strikes three times we've watched Naomi going from being without food to now being without her family by her own admission she is running on empty and blaming God for all that is wrong in her life and and no doubt Naomi must be looking up to God and thinking you could have but you didn't you could have spared my husband but you didn't you you you could have spared my two sons but you didn't and the truth of the matter is when life leaves a bad taste in your mouth if only for a moment we look at God and wonder why if only for one second we will ask God why [00:12:08]

God why didn't you fix the situation god why didn't you let me get a better diagnosis from the doctor god why didn't you heal my loved one why why didn't you save my marriage God why didn't you keep my home from going into foreclosure God why didn't you keep my child from getting in trouble [00:13:55]

my Mariah I don't want you to underestimate the power of your testimony revelation tells us that they overcame the devil by the blood of the lamb and by the word of their testimony there are testimonies in this church right now that can bring about healing deliverance and even salvation to those who lives are hanging in the balance the truth is many of us are eyewitnesses to God's power and presence yet we act as if we're in the witness protection program because we are reluctant to tell just how good God has been to us but I need y'all to know this morning that someone's life can change if you just open your mouth and tell about the goodness of the Lord [00:17:02]

may I suggest that some of you go back to serving God the way your parents taught you to go back to Bible study go back to Sunday school go back to singing in the choir go back to serving on the board go back to tithing go back to reading your Bible go back to praying like you used to go back to fasting like you used to you need to decide like Naomi that it is time to go back [00:19:00]

but the question the question remains that we're wrestling with this morning is what do you do when life leaves a bad taste in your mouth uh the the the first thing that that you need to do is prepare for a series of setbacks look with me in verses 3 and five now Alimc Naomi's husband died and she was left with her two sons verse 5 says "But both Marlon and Killian also died and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband." Let me tell you every man and woman are built to handle one setback uh that's why we don't get upset when things happen as long as it is one set back we don't fall apart when the car won't crank as long as it's one set back we don't cry when we receive disappointing news as long as it's just one setback we We don't even get upset uh when we get an unexpected bill in the mail as long as it's just one setback [00:19:55]

the problem we have as children of God is when we experience a series of setbacks you know if it's not the refrigerator it's the freezer and if it's not the freezer it's the timing belt and if it's not the timing belt it's the transmission and if it's not the car it's your lower back and if it's not your lower back it's your left foot and if it's not your left foot it's your student loans and if it's not your student loans it's your medical bills and if it's not your medical bills it's your family and if it's not your family it's your co-workers and if it's not your co-workers it's your friends if it's not your friends it's your neighbors the way my grandmama said it if it ain't one thing come on here y'all going to preach with me this morning here [00:21:07]

in other words why must the path to purpose always go through pain tribulation is a pressing crushing pressure or intense suffering and that could be emotionally physically or spiritually but a trial on the other hand is a test or approving of character faith or obedience but if only we could choose one because both of them are rather rough to me but I just wish we could choose one or the other but but I was reminded that the Bible says in John "In this world you will have trouble." Uh uh Romans reminded us "Rejoice in hope and be patient in tribulation be constant in prayer." James reminded me broadinwood consider it pure joy my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kind because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance [00:23:21]

so there is purpose in our pain there There is triumph in our tribulation there is a miracle in our misfortune consecration can come out of calamity divinity can sit next to difficulty and we can gain strength from our struggles [00:24:47]

look with me in verse 14 at this they wept aloud again then Opar kissed her mother-in-law goodbye but Ruth clung to her in verses 9 and 10 the text tells us that she Naomi kisses them goodbye and they Oar and Ruth wept aloud and said to her "We will go back with you to your people." Ruth and Oar both agreed that they would go back with Naomi to Bethlehem until verse 14 that's right that that's when Opar has a change of heart that's right and a change of mind i I wish I knew what triggered this change in OAR to make her decide to return to her mama's house and worship the gods of Moab small G but maybe it was the series of questions that Naomi raised about whether she could have more sons at this stage of her life and if she did would the two women be willing to wait until they grew up to marry them i'm not sure what Opar heard but whatever it was it caused her to change her mind and her direction one minute she's headed to Bethlehem and the next minute she's turning back to go home that's right this is yet another setback for Naomi because in verse 10 both are traveling with her and four verses later one has turned back [00:25:28]

but I stopped by this morning just to encourage a few of you who seem to keep focusing on who left you come on come on who stopped talking to you who stopped supporting you who stopped showing up and I want you to refocus your attention on the one who's still with you because as children of God we spend far too much time unfriending folks on Facebook and blocking their calls and text messages that we forget that God has left us with at least one good friend or one good brother or four good sisters who will journey with us i know you got a hundred followers on social media i know you have hundreds of friends on Facebook but we going to focus this morning and thank God for the one [00:27:05]

the name of a person speaks to their experiences the word mara is a form of marra meaning a bitter place in the desert she wants to be called Mara because she has three indictments against God she says "The Almighty El Shadai made my life very bitter." Indictment one "The Lord has afflicted me." Indictment two "And the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me." Indictment number three here Naomi sees herself redefined by the loss i need to know have you ever allowed pain to rename you [00:31:59]

and may I suggest Auntie Deborah we all have I ask you how you doing and you respond I am sick and tired i I I tell you you can try it one more time and you reply I'm done i I say you can do this i know you can and you tell me I'm not good enough all of us at some point in our lives have allowed the season and the pain that we were going through to rename us [00:32:47]

because she has lost everything under the watchful eye of an almighty God and I'm going to be honest anytime we experience any form of loss there is a tendency to become angry or at the very least disappointed with God that's true can we be honest after eating healthy and trying to exercise [Applause] your A1C go down but your cholesterol numbers go up you can't tell me you ain't disappointed in the Lord after creating a budget and following it to the letter and tithing on every dollar and still every month you sitting at that kitchen table trying to figure out how you going to make these ends meet you can't tell me you're not disappointed in God after giving that child everything they wanted and providing for all of their needs and they still had the audacity be disrespectful and talk back you can't tell me you can't tell me at the very least you're not angry or disappointed with the Lord [00:33:29]

he allowed Naomi and Ruth to arrive at the beginning of the barley harvest and in other words they both reached their destiny on time and in time that's right look she didn't arrive at the beginning of the planting season uhhuh she didn't arrive in time to water the plants and pull up the weeds she arrived in time for the harvest god permitted Naomi to avoid the labor intensive parts of the process she arrives in time to do nothing more pastor than to reap oh y'all going to help me preach the harvest but the Bible supports it because the Bible says "I sent you to reap what you have not worked for others have done the hard work and you have reaped the benefits of their labor." Can I tell somebody that's good news this morning because a few of you think it's too late to go back to school some of you think it's too late to change careers some of you think it's too late to have a healthy and loving relationship a few of you think it's too late to start a business a few of you think it's too late to embark on a healthy lifestyle well I'm here to tell you that the book of Joel tells us "I will repay you for the years." The locust have eaten the great locust the young locust the other locust and the locust swarm in other words God will give you back the harvest that has been destroyed you've just got to keep walking i know they talking about you i just need you to keep walking i know you don't understand what's going on but I need you to keep walking i know he hasn't answered your prayers but I need you to keep walking [00:37:56]

Ethan said "Don't spit it out mama just keep chewing." But let me tell y'all what Ethan and the candy manufacturers understood is that the tartaric and the citric acids provide the candy with a sharp burst of tartness while the inverted sugar gives the soft gummy its sweet flavor what my baby was trying to tell me mama if you keep chewing long enough that which is sour will eventually come on Holy Ghost get sweeter i I I know the medication they prescribed isn't working i just need you to keep chewing i know they going to turn off the lights on Thursday but I need you to keep chewing i know you went by the cemetery yesterday but I need you to keep chewing i know it looks like they're against you but I need you to keep chewing i know it looks like your body won't heal but I need you to keep chewing i know the bill is late but I need you to keep chewing i know you are misunderstood but I need you to keep chewing i know the diagnosis is scary but I need you to keep chewing i know the prognosis is scary but I need you to keep chewing i know you cried yourself to sleep last night but I need you to keep chewing [00:40:12]

chewing keep chewing because you're wonderfully and fearfully made keep chewing because the Lord will fight your battle if you only keep still keep chewing because he will give you the desires of your heart keep chewing because he'll give you beauty for your ashes keep chewing because he'll never leave you nor will he forsake you keep chewing because the Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear keep chewing because the Lord is the strength of my life of whom shall I be afraid keep chewing because my grandmother was saying he sweet I know he sweet I know [00:42:15]

storm clouds may rise and strong winds may blow but I will tell the world wherever I go that I found a savior and he's sweet i know [00:43:05]

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