I distinctively remember last year when the pandemic had just started. We were in the season of Lent, and I remember how hard it was to continue giving up the one small thing I gave up for God amidst all I was forced to give up due to the pandemic, such as a spring break mission trip, prom, or chances to get my ACT score up. I found myself becoming bitter about what I was losing.
I found comfort from the book of Ruth about not giving up when I am going through trials and tribulations in my life. I read about a widow, Naomi, the mother-in-law to Ruth and Orpah (who have both just lost their husbands in war) who is encouraging her daughter-in-laws to return home to their own families. Orpah returned to her family, Ruth insisted on staying with Naomi to provide and take care of her.
Reading further, I noticed Naomi’s frustration towards God. Her frustrations cause her to lose sight of her relationships with Ruth and God. She locks it away and becomes bitter with her situation and blames her bitterness on the Lord. “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: 20-21)
In contrast, I saw only a chapter later that Ruth goes out of her own comfort zone to provide for herself and Naomi (Ruth 2:2). Both women were facing extreme challenges, but it is how they chose to deal with them and live for God in the middle of their discouragement that is important to examine.
As a disciple of Christ, we are all going to face very difficult struggles in our lives. We are called to prepare ourselves for those difficult unknown challenges ahead by building a strong foundation in our faith. We shouldn’t dwell in our own bitterness when we are discouraged, we can lose sight of the relationships we hold not only in each other but in God. When we face challenges, we need to reach out to God and the people closest to us, allowing Him to pull us out of our bitterness and into His love.
During Lent this year, it may be hard to give up what God has put upon our hearts but we must remember that we have a choice to make. We can choose to be bitter about things or we can be proactive and choose to turn to God when we are faced with battles. We can always find in Him in the peaks of life and in the driest of valleys.
Erika Manning, St. Luke’s Youth
