“And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.” (Ruth 1:20)
Bitter experiences will come. We will be disappointed by people. Life itself in many ways will fail to live up to expectations. Sorrow will be where joy was hoped for. A path we thought would lead us to the desires of our heart will show us more pain than pleasure. Like Naomi, to some extent, we could all say, “Call me Bitter.”
But although every heart knows its own bitterness, and bitter experiences are inescapable, God would keep us from the horrible aftermath of drinking any bitter cup we’ve been handed in life. Instead of bitter anger, cursing and railing against God and man, He would give us a heart of thanksgiving and blessing. Instead of bitter envy and strife, He would give us godliness with contentment. Instead of bitter sorrow and black depression that works death, He would give us an abundance of daily joy in His presence to strengthen and encourage us.
If we will let Him, the Lord will enable us to rebound from every setback, every hard thing we have experienced, not with a bitter attitude, not with a bitter cause, not with bitter enemies, but with the glorious response of an overcomer. Do not fail of the grace of God. Do not let a bitter root grow up to trouble you and defile others. Your own failure to overcome will end up being the biggest failure of all, and the source of your own eternal bitterness.