Reflect on today’s reading using these questions:

• How might Naomi’s former neighbors have felt about her now that she is returning from the lands of Israel’s enemies, where she met a worse disaster than the famine?
• Do you see God’s care for Naomi? How would you describe that care?

Trauma and Our Views of God

Today's reading focuses more closely on the passage we looked at yesterday. Naomi sees God as the source of her bitter suffering (1:20). She believes God is the one who has emptied her of everything and condemned her (1:21). Because of her pain, she is not able to see God’s care for her, expressed in the loyal love of Ruth. But God’s care for Naomi is not dependent on her recognizing or appreciating it.

Reflect on your story:

• If you are honest, how do you view God?
• Naomi wanted to be called “bitter” rather than “pleasant.” If you could choose a name that describes you now, what might it be?