So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” “Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

At times in life, even when we see God’s goodness in provision for us, we still choose to remain bitter and angry. Here we see Naomi return to her people with Ruth. She was greeted by them and could have bragged on the loyalty and faithfulness of her daughter-in-law. Instead, she focused on what she did not have, a husband and sons. It was a bitter pill for her to swallow, coming back without them. I imagine it would be for me too, if I lost my wife and children.

In the midst of the struggle, we find that God was faithful to Naomi and provided her Ruth. David was also one of those, at times, who was angry with God, full of heartache. Here we see this heartache displayed: “Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint; heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in deep anguish. How long, Lord, how long? Turn, Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. Among the dead no one proclaims your name. Who praises you from the grave? I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.” (Psalms‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭7‬)

“Who praises you from the grave?” What a great question. And I sense the anger and irony of it. Have you been or are you angry at God? It is OK. God can deal with it. But the most important thing to do is to let it out and be honest with him. It is the only place to start from. Then we must return to trusting him again, as David did.

One of the things I love about mosaics, is that they are made up of many types of broken pieces of clay or normal, ordinary rocks. Yet the artist has pulled them together to craft a beautiful picture that communicates to us and brings joy! I see God doing the same things with you and me spiritually. When we feel broken, it is never fun. But he has a bigger plan in store for us. He is making a MASTERPIECE MOSAIC out of our broken pieces. We just have to trust him in the breaking process — be honest too, but trust him.

Lord, teach me to trust you when I feel like life deals unfair or damaging blows. Help me to draw close to you in the breaking process. May I wrestle and stay committed to your plan. May I look forward to the MASTERPIECE MOSAIC you are making out of me and those you have me partnered with in life and in ministry.