identity

I love the story of Ruth and I always get so much from it.  Naomi is what really stood out this time around. Naomi actually means pleasantness.  She was a blessed woman. But, as a famine came upon Israel,  she and her husband and two sons moved to the land of Moab from Bethlehem-Judah to ease their plight. While there, her two sons married. She then experienced tragedy as both her sons and her husband died!  Naomi headed home to Bethlehem-Judah.  When she got there, all her family and friends were so excited to see her.    "And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." Ruth 1:20 KJV    Mara means bitter.
She actually wanted her name changed to reflect the bitterness that she had experienced and continued to allow to rule her heart and mind. She seemed to even blame God for her situation.  As time went by, she was once again blessed because her daughter in law Ruth loved her and obeyed. Ruth bore a stone that Naomi was able to care for and be grandmother to. She was praised and restored.
And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord , which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.  And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him.
Ruth 4:14‭-‬15 KJV

Why did Naomi's story seem so exciting? She lost so much and experienced great bitterness.  We can identify with this part of life.   Naomi tried to change her very name, her identity  to "bitterness". She actually told others to call her "Bitter!" At that time, all she saw for herself was the brokenness and sorrow.  She didn't believe it would ever end. She may have even went home to basically wait for her life to end as well.

There are times we go through, that are greatly bitter and hard. We experience loss and sorrow, pain and struggle. We may identify with Naomi and feel like this season will never end for us. We may be on the verge of giving up. We may just as well say "My name is Bitter!"

I recently watched a movie where one of the characters was asked, "Who are you?" He struggled to say who he was. He named his job, his interests, positions and finally came to saying he was a christian. He realized he really needed to find his identity in Christ first. The rest of it can fail and change, but Jesus never fails. 

We can allow circumstances and our past failures to dictate our identity.  We will answer to that identity, live it, wallow in it. We see ourselves as lost, broken and destroyed.  It will determine our next choices and decision and our actions. Our thoughts are dwelling on those bitter feelings. It permeates every part of us.

But God sees more than we do. God had a great plan for Naomi. She was instrumental in the very genealogy of Jesus Christ. Her story is just as important as Ruth's story. She was named "Pleasantness" for  reason. She was given back that pleasantness by the end of the book.  God never forgot His plan or whom she was intended to be. She was the pleasant one in the lives of those around her.  She was important.

We need to realize that God sees our purposed identity.  He does not see us as broken and destroyed, but He sees His child.  He sees our intended purpose and position. He sees pleasantness and blessing. He sees what He wants to give to us and do for us and through us.  Our identity should be found in Him alone. He is the author and finisher of our faith. We cannot continue in our broken state and be in the will of God. We need to ask God to show us His plan and will for our life, then live it.

He designed us for worship and for relationship with Him. In  Him we find we are precious  and we are blessed with grace and mercy. We are not intended to identify ourselves as only destroyed by pain and sorrow.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:3 KJV

and put on the new self [the regenerated and renewed nature], created in God’s image, [godlike] in the righteousness and holiness of the truth [living in a way that expresses to God your gratitude for your salvation].
Ephesians 4:24 AMP

We are made new in Him. We are not to continue in our old identity. We have a new identity through salvation when we go through those hard struggles, we cannot be consumed by it and allow it to change who we are in Christ. We still have hope. We still have the joy He gives. We can find comfort and peace in His arms.

God sees and knows who we are. He did not allow Naomi to rename herself. We should also realize that God calls us by name. He listed her story for a reason. He demonstrated how much he wants to take care of our sorrows and hurts. He wants to turn it around for our good. It doesn't change the fact we experienced it, but it will be turned to good and should not determine our identity. We will be able to say: You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,  Psalms 30:11 NKJV

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 3:26‭-‬27 NKJV

God created us. He can change us. He can bless us. He can bring us through the fire and the storm. We are not defined by circumstances. We are defined by our faith in our Creator and Savior. Just as God saw Naomi and reminded her that she was blessed and pleasant, not bitter.  We are to be identified by Him and His Spirit operating in us. Let us take on the identity that Christ gives us. We need to say I am a child of God and nothing will ever change that.

what once was dead

We had planted two apple trees two springs ago. Last spring, they began the spring blooming and growing leaves, then we had a late frost.  The leaves died and left two dead looking sticks where we thought we would have young apple trees.  We looked at them this spring and figured they were dead.  We had bought a fig tree, so I dug up one of the apple tree remnants and planted the fig.  A few days later my husband called me out to the yard. We couldn't believe it. The apple tree still in the ground had put on leaves. I walked over to the field where I had tossed the one I dug up and sure enough, there were buds on it as well.  We replanted that tree, watered and fertilized it.  We may end up with two apple trees yet. 

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV

I realized something through all this.  Many times, we may give up  on something or even someone because we may not see life there; a dream that doesn't seem to be coming to fruition or a lost soul you have been praying over. We sometimes give up before God is actually done working. 

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 KJV

I remember an uncle of mine and his wife who were lost and deep in addiction. Many gave up and wrote them off. But there was still some whom never quit praying even when a change seemed impossible.  I will forever rejoice over the change that came in their lives.  Where sin and death once seemed to reign, Jesus stepped in and delivered and set free. Tears of joy now replace tears of pain. God sees the hearts that we cannot see.

We may have a vision or dream that we believe to be God given, yet face obstacles and struggles. It may seem like the dream is dying or being taken away.  We may want to give up pursuing this dream, this vision.  But God has purpose in the struggle. If we keep our faith and persevere in Him, we will see the birth and fulfillment of those plans and dreams He has given us. 

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:2 KJV

We cannot give up on what God has spoken to us.  We cannot assume death when He spoke life.  We cannot use just the natural eye sight when God sees deep into the heart and  knows what needs to be done. We can struggle and we can endure disappointments, but God spoke life over the situation and we can rest in Him.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
I Peter 1:3 NKJV

Just as Ezekiel looked on the dry bones, all He saw in the natural was dead, dry bones. But God said to prophesy and speak. God moved and brought life back. God restored life where no life appeared to be.  Do not give up in the hard times or when all seems lost.  God speaks life over the lost and dying, and over you. He has purpose and hope for you. He sees life where we may see only loss and despair. He brings back life in those situations that should cause our demise.  Keep hope alive. Praise God for the life He gives. What once was dead, lives again.

the outcome of the Lord

As I was reading and listening to some online sermons this week. One sermon and thought really stuck with me as he talked about Job and the outcome God intended.  I cannot tell you whom I even heard talk about this and I cannot find it again. (Forgive me for not having it as a reference) But it has sat on my front burners for several days. The book of James. Chapter 5, verses 10-11 stands out to me as it is speaking of the examples we can read about in the Old Testament who suffered and endured.

Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
James 5:10-11 KJV

Verse 11 has the phrase "Have seen the end of the Lord." I had to understand this. The Amplified version says it this way.

As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives].
You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.
James 5:10-11 AMP

That phrase is written and  defined as "having seen the Lord's outcome." It ended up a rich blessing.  The end of this situation was a rich blessing from God.

This tells us that Job is an example of a believer who went through some rough times but God had an outcome to bring about through this time. When we read Job, we find a man whom God described as a good, righteous, faithful man. We would like to be like this man. Then the enemy attacked and He lost everything, riches, home, children and health. Even his friends were against him.  Job began to curse the day he was born, and seemed to reveal some things in his heart that weren't exactly good or righteous. He needed to get some things right with God. He came to a point of repentance and the whole situation changed. Job was restored double what he had before.

What can we learn from this? First of all, we will go through trials and troubles no matter how much we believe in God or serve him. We are not immune to struggles in this life. Living in this world promises hard times.
Second, we cannot assume we have nothing else to learn, or think we are alright just the way we are. We are imperfect human beings and no where near perfect in our righteousness. We need to get some things right with God. Our righteousness is filthy rags before Christ. We need to allow God to work on us as we go through trials. Job had some lessons to learn about his own heart. We need call out to God like the Psalmist did.

 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 KJV

 Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
Psalms 44:21 KJV

Our hearts and our thoughts are not always righteous before God. We may have hidden secrets that actually keep us from more of God. God can work on those hidden secrets whether it is hurts, grudges, guilt, doubt, self-righteousness, etc.  He knows and wants to help us. He wants to work on our hearts to make us more like Him. We can pray and allow God to search our hearts and set us free of a little more of self.  This prepares us to be more like Him, impurities removed, and set apart for the use of the Master.
We know He has only good in mind for us. We can trust this process even when it is hard to go through.

 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 KJV

The struggles we face may have been meant to destroy us, but with God they are meant to reveal the secrets of our heart so we can allow Jesus Christ to work on us and pull out a little more from the hidden recesses of our hearts to set us free. He takes a bad thing and turns it around  for our good.

During this time of life, COVID19 and all it has brought,  we are all facing some uncertainties and struggles. God can work on us individually. We can go to our knees asking  the Lord to reveal our own hearts and make us more like Him.  My prayer is: Search me Lord. Set me free and bring about the outcome  you have in mind. Use these the trials for good.