“Problems, Problems, TURN-AROUND”

“In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. The man's name was Elimelech, and his wife was Naomi. Their two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in the land of Judah. And when they reached Moab, they settled there. Then Elimelech died, and Naomi was left with her two sons. The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. This left Naomi alone, without her two sons or her husband.” ~ Ruth 1:1-5 (NLT)

When you talk about people with problems in the Bible to overlook Naomi is a huge mistake. Naomi was accustomed to suffering, hopeless situations and affliction. It was so bad to the point where she thought God was “out to get her.” However, God wasn’t out to hurt her, but to help her. It’s important to understand in life, life happens. People pass away and while it’s easy to blame God, which Naomi did, it’s still necessary to understand it’s a fact of life, people pass on. The problem of death is that we don’t understand it, it’s something that surpasses our mind and we just can’t think beyond it. It’s beyond our comprehension. As a Christian death is the greatest promotion you could ever receive from God, you are instantly and immediately placed in front of the presence of God. (2 Cor. 5:8) God never intended for death to take place, but death happened as a result of sin. God even goes further to explain that death is something from the devil (Heb. 2:14) and that death would be the final enemy destroyed by Jesus Christ at His second coming. (1 Cor. 15:26)

In our life it seems sometimes that problems turn into more problems and we don’t know what to do. Sometimes the very problems that happen in our life aren’t designed by God, but the devil. The evidence of the enemies work in our life is that sometimes in problems we run from God instead of to God. Naomi was so hurt that she changed her name (character) from “Naomi” which meant “pleasant” to “Mara” which meant “bitterness.” Our life can resemble that change, some of our problems have completely altered our character and changed how we view God and in a negative way at that. God never intended for problems to be known to us, God wanted a peaceful life, paradise, but through sin we have now experienced all of the wars, suffering, hunger, thirst, famines, droughts, deaths, diseases and plagues. Truly, sin is the enemy of mankind because of its bitter fruit that we currently see in the world as a result of it. In order to fully receive the turn around that God has for us, we have to hold on. Naomi was at her wits end, but God was just beginning to work a miracle in her life. While she was complaining, bitter with God, taking the negative stance in her life and growing in an ungodly and bitter attitude, God was on the other side switching the scene of her life. God was preparing Naomi when she thought problems were about to take her under. God is preparing you when you seem like life is overwhelming. Hold on, God is the God of a turn around and He is a situation changer. Remain humble and with a positive attitude and most importantly, don’t mistake Gods character as bad or horrible because of a bad and horrible circumstance! God Bless!

Father in Jesus Name, I come to You grateful that You can work in a problem. Lord, my life has some and I admit I haven’t walked in godliness towards them. Lord, I haven’t responded to them as I should have as a Christian, but God help me to be aware of Your hand in my situation. Lord, may I trust Your heart with my heart and life. God turn my situation around and help me to glorify You while I am waiting on this to take place in Jesus Name! AMEN!

Picture from the Glo-Bible www.globible.com