Grief

Still Searching For Naomi? Part 1

by Janice S Ramkissoon 
01/29/16
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‘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).

Has your search for Naomi been unsuccessful?

Have you been finding Mara each time you go in search of Naomi? 

Could it be that your Naomi, like the Naomi in Ruth chapter one, is also grieving? Naomi experienced a great loss and finding no comfort in her grief she had slipped into a ‘Mara’ state-of-mind, exhausted from the grieving. Many mentors often find themselves in a similar state. It may be the only way they know how to protect themselves from losing control.

For Naomi to get back her mentor status, she needs the help of the saints. While Naomi takes a much needed rest from the grief that has exhausted her, try not to add to her pain by only hearing the words that are coming from her lips or the uninviting look on her face. Instead, try to see the heart/the pain behind those words and the discouraging look on her face.

When we look beyond the surface, we get a wonderful opportunity to meet the real need. We can then respond to the need of that hurting soul rather than reacting to what may come out as angry words or a look of disapproval.

Is there anyone out there who can give Naomi a helping hand to get back on track?

Could you be the one to help Naomi today?

She just needs a little nudge in the right direction. She is drained. She has given her all and now her strength is failing. She lost her husband and then her two sons [you can insert here the loss endured by your mentor]. She needs every bit of encouragement as Ruth does. Help her break down that wall of protection so she can start to regain confidence in her true identity.  If no one takes the time to help her regain her strength, her wall of protection will soon become her prison cell. Once her strength is at its optimum and she is confident in her identity, she will naturally continue to operate in her role as a mentor, embracing her true identity as Naomi.

Will you start by praying for her to be strengthened by the power of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ? Then help in whatever way you can, as the Lord leads. It will encourage her to keep pressing on.

Afraid to confront Naomi?

There are times we need to make the first move in seeing our breakthrough. You may need the help of Naomi but like Ruth you may have to stand your ground and not be intimidated by Naomi’s place of authority:

‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.’ But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God…When Naomi realised that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her’ (Ruth 1:16-18).

If Naomi is at a ‘Mara’ state-of mind, her lack of confidence in her God-given abilities may be part of your discouragement. I have seen many cases where it has also been the stumbling block in Ruth achieving her goals. If the Naomi in your life is sending you back to what you are trying to leave behind (what God has removed you from) then it may be your call to pray for her today as well as asking God for the courage to stand with her in her time of need. She needs you to stand with her through her time of grief.

She may urge you to leave her but it is imperative that you stay with her. Both your futures are linked to each other. So please understand that God is working through it all to fulfil His purpose in the lives concerned.

Will you stand and be counted among God’s army of servants today?

There are many who are limping in the house of God with battle wounds that are still unhealed. They genuinely want to be used for the glory of God and the growth of His Kingdom but they are operating on stale oil or auto-pilot—suffering from burn-out—just pushing to make it through another project, another service, another task. They are multi-tasking and ‘doing good’ and that blocks their view, hindering them from seeing the real need.

God can use you to bring healing to wounded lives, if you allow Him to work in and through you. He just needs your obedience in surrendering your will to His. Wanting desperately to see His will done in your life and the lives of those connected to you, will be the key to releasing the servant in you as you worship in spirit and in truth.

[End of part 1/2].