Dearly Beloved,
IT IS NOT OVER!
“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.’” (Ruth 1:19-21 NIV).
Recently my family was bereaved. One of my brothers-in-law died. It was a double
tragedy as his youngest son, the only child of his new wife, died some hours
after his death. We were so sad. We, especially the widow, were so hopeless. It
was a very bitter experience. However, as we were coming from the burial of the
man, still so sad, the Lord led me to the lives of Naomi and Ruth. I later used
the story to console the widow and the rest of us.
Naomi, Elimelech (her husband) and their two sons went to the land of Moab for
greener pasture. The two sons married when they were in the foreign land.
Unfortunately, Elimelech and the two sons died in that foreign land leaving
Naomi and the two young women hopeless. Later, Naomi decided to go back home.
Ruth, one of the young widows decided to go with her. Naomi thought it was over
for her and expressed it as people were welcoming her back. According to her,
the Lord had afflicted her, and there was no hope again. The young Ruth was also
hopeless as she followed her mother-in-law back to her homeland. However, God
turned their bitter story to a sweet one when He re-established Ruth and gave
her a son in her new home. People came to rejoice with both Naomi and Ruth (Ruth
4:13-17). It was indeed not over for both of them!
Are you in such hopeless situation? Are you thinking it is over for you? Are you
changing your name from “pleasant” to “bitterness” (as Naomi did)
because of your situation? It is not over! There is still hope for you. The Lord
will turn your story from bitter one to a sweet one. People will indeed come to
rejoice with you.
Let me quote the whole Psalm 126: “When the LORD brought back the captives to
Zion, we were like men who dreamed.  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our
tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The LORD has
done great things for them.’ The LORD has done great things for us, and we are
filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev. Those
who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying
seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him” (NIV).
It is not over!
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Prayer Request:
Join me in prayers for the widow of my brother-in-law, my aged mother-in-law,
and the rest of us that the Lord will grant us the fortitude to bear this loss,
and that people will soon come to rejoice with each one of us and all that are
in great sorrow now, especially that young woman who lost her husband and only
child the same day.



Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
+234 805 515 9591
http://www.thewordthruthenet.org/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/spiritualdigest2003/
Visit and become a follower of http://thewordthruthenet.blogspot.com/

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will
have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted
in my body, whether by life or by death. FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST
AND TO DIE IS GAIN (Philippians 1:20-21, NIV).




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