Why Worry?Sample

The Root

Imagine losing your spouse and two sons a decade apart. This is what Naomi faced in the book of Ruth. Naomi and Ruth’s experience is a moving story of tragedy and triumph. It also reveals what faithfulness can produce despite our feelings of hopelessness.

The loss of her sons must have shattered Naomi’s world. Amid sorrow, our emotions can work overtime. We convince ourselves that God wants nothing more for us than calamity and misery. But this is farthest from the truth! Psalm 34:19 tells us, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”

We will never be able to comprehend why things happen or the timing of our hardships. God’s ways are not our ways, nor can we grasp His thoughts (see Isaiah 55:8). While I’m sure Naomi had to know this, her reaction to losing her family was human.

She said to her daughter-n-laws, Orpah, and Ruth, after losing their husbands and wanting to follow Naomi back to Judah: “…No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me” (Ruth 1:13).

Naomi’s response tells us everything we need to know about her state of mind. She was convinced that God was angry with her, and this added to the root of her misery. Afflictions come in various forms, and like our days of joy and happiness, suffering is a part of life, too. And for some, this can develop into seasons of depression.

“Count it all a joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).

Find a quiet place to take on the root of your worry and unhappiness. Make a list of people or circumstances that can be hindering your progress from living in peace. List everything you believe causes you distress. Be courageous in exposing the truth, even the secret things that God already knows (see Psalm 44:21).