The Return

So Naomi returned.

NAOMI WAS IN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL: Her husband had died. Her sons were dead too. She had been living for years in a foreign land where few worshiped God.

Now she had two daughters-in-law to provide for, and she felt she couldn’t even care for herself. She was in an emotional and spiritual famine. Naomi was so depressed she even changed her name. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me” (Ruth 1:20).

She knew if she stayed in this barren place, she would die. And if she didn’t make provisions for her daughters-in-law, they might die too.

Naomi made a pivotal decision. She must go back to the place she knew she would hear the voice of God again, to her home in faraway Bethlehem, even if she had to walk each step of the way alone. Naomi knew she needed to return to a place where there was not only food for her body but also food for her soul. The first step out of this depression was to go where she would receive good counsel and care.

When we find ourselves in the deserts of life, we need to go back to the people and places that first helped us hear and learn about God. Going back to those who we know will give us healthy wisdom is not a step backward; rather, going back is often the first step in going forward again.

Who are the people, what are the resources that first gave you healthy teaching about God and emotional wellness? It is not failure to return or retrace the steps that made you well the first time. Going back will move you forward.