Have you experienced circumstances lately that threaten to darken your outlook on life? Are you struggling with a health problem? A tight or dreary financial situation? A broken relationship? The loss of a loved one?
It might be easy right now for you to resent your circumstances, question God, or even look for someone to blame.
If you do that, though, you might be speaking or acting too soon.
A woman we read about in the Bible did that. Her name was Naomi. Although her name means “Pleasant” she soon found her circumstances were not, and neither was she. After moving to a foreign land, losing her husband, and then losing both of her grown, married sons, she changed her name from “Pleasant” to “Bitter.”
“Call me Mara (which means “Bitter”),” she told everyone she met.By changing her name she was, in essence, saying “I’m not pleasant to be around anymore. I’m bitter.
She let her circumstances define WHO she was. So sad.
But Naomi spoke too soon. She reacted emotionally to the circumstances right in front of her, instead of responding maturely to the God who had her life in His capable hands.
Naomi gave in to the drama. But God was about to change the scene.
Naomi’s daughter-in-law, Ruth, developed a close relationship with her, then met a man, Boaz, who married Ruth and provided for her mother-in-law, too. Long story short, Naomi’s life wasn’t over after all. God was just starting to bless in a big way. Naomi, through her bitter-at-first circumstances, eventually found a new life and became the great-great grandmother of Israel’s King David.
Sometimes you and I have to go through the dark to experience the deliverance. We’ve got to see the bad before we witness the blessing. And when we start to look for God, we will ALWAYS see Him at work, even if it’s just a work in us — a slow, gentle, character-building — that He is accomplishing.
Is the drama in your life attempting to define you right now? Don’t be the woman who says “Call me bitter.” Be the woman who remains pleasant to be around because she’s looking for God to show up and keep His promises. God is never ever late. And, because of that, David the Psalmist was able to say:
Wait for theLord; be strong and take heart and wait for theLord (Psalm 27:14).
How will YOU focus on God’s deliverance rather than the drama in your life? Let me know in the comment section below so I can pray for you. And, to help you in the waiting, I’ll give you an additional $5 off of the already reduced price of my popular book, When God Sees Your Tears, so you are constantly reminded that God knows you, hears you, and sees you. (Just use the coupon code GST5 in the shopping cart on my website. But hurry. This offer is only good for the first 50 readers who respond.)
love it- Keep up the good work– You are helping somebody- So please don’t stop- Each time I read _ I am inspired to read more.
Thank you, Phyllis. ?
This fits me to a “T”. I’ve been seeking God’s divine intervention for a very trying time I’m going through right now. Please pray for me and my teenage son, who I’m raising alone.
You are in my prayers today, Pam. Thank you for your comment.
Hi Cindi I am reading your book when a woman overcome life hurts: your book inspires me as I am a single mom with three beautiful girls. I have been abused my ex for 18 years each and every type. Reading this book is helping me to understand I am not alone.
Thank you keep up the great work and please pray for my kids and me.
Hi Amanda, I’m so glad you’re reading “When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts and you’re being encouraged through it. You and your girls are in my prayers….Lord, strengthen this precious mom and her daughters. Protect, comfort, and encourage them with Your presence in the name of Jesus.
Somethings in life are trully let by the Holy Spirit, I am in a very difficult period of not having a home, job,broken marriage and in debt, with three daughters to raise alone and the story of Naomi is comforting and I know God sees me and hear my cries for help
Philippine: Thank you for taking the time to comment. You are in my prayers right now.
“Lord, I know You see all that is going on in this single mom’s life. I know You care about her and her daughters more than she will ever realize. Please comfort her with Your presence, give her confidence through Your provision for her family, and draw her and her daughters closer to you during this time of aloneness. Thank You that nothing happens outside Your knowledge and that You have a plan for her life as she surrenders fully to You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.”
Hi Cindi, I am surely facing the circumstance which is threatening… it’s both financial and health as well, but the good news is that i found your are so encouraging.
so please let’s stay in touch.
Thanks
Edith: I am glad you are encouraged through my message. Make sure you are signed up for my weekly blog/e-newsletter and I will do my best to continue to encourage you with God’s Word and promises to those who are surrendered to Him. May you sense His presence, His protection, and His provision in your life today.
I left my abusive husband after 12 years of marriage. I have healing to do.. I am trying to seek gods direction and him with all my heart.. my dreams are shattered but what I had was not real.. it was not a marriage. It was one-sided. Pray that God would watch over me and shelter me under his wing and nurse me back to health emotionally.. I need God every moment…
Oh Suzy, I know you are on God’s heart and I am praying for you today. I hope you are located in the U.S. and can take advantage of my special sale through Monday (Nov. 20) to get a copy of my book, When God Sees Your Tears for $5 off. I know it will help you. If that’s not possible please contact me at Cindispeaks@msn.com and I’ll see what I can do to get a copy to you. May you sense His smile today.
Hello there Cindi, I’m a man and I just want to say that It’s a wonderful thing that you are doing although your topics may be addressing Women us Men can also learn from it
Thank you, Hiram for reading and if God can touch your heart, too, through my words, than I am grateful to Him. 🙂
Hi Cindi, wonderful article and I am so inspired by this, love you & keep up the good works
Thank you, Dorothy, for your sweet words of encouragement today. I’m so grateful to Him to know that you are inspired by what He teaches me and you are loved, too, my friend.
I’ve decided to not let the drama in my life define me by choosing to live for today; to create pleasant memories just in case it will be the last memories and let God literally handle what I can’t. Let go and let God. When u finally let go, even for a moment in time, it’s so breathtaking.
Donna, you should be writing a book, too! 🙂 Thank you for sharing those refreshing words of encouragement with me and my readers. God’s blessings on your life as you continue to live for Him and live each day as if it was your last.
Hi Cindy, I just happened to,stumble across your website (God at work, I’m sure) and it is just what I need. My life has been one of turmoil since I was very young (abuse, parents divorce, always struggling to fit in and feeling alone, worried, anxiety) well in my fifties now, I have a beautiful family but have made some very poor choices along the way and God has rescued me every time. I long to live my life doing God’s will and often struggle not knowing what to do. I pray that God forgives me my sins and brings me to a place in my life that I forever do his good works. Bless you, I know God has a great purpose in you.
Robin, I’m so glad you found my site and thank you for taking the time to comment. My book, When a Woman Overcomes Life’s Hurts, is perfect for you right now, because it will affirm to you that God can use and redeem anything you’ve gone through and turn it into a blessing in your life and the lives of others. Please watch for my email on Friday (or go to my site again on Friday if you don’t get my emails) and you will find that book at its lowest price ever for my “Reader Appreciation Sale.” Keep in touch. I care about your longing to draw closer to Him.
Thank you for encouraging me through your lessons, for the great moms that trust the Lord in the midst of their circumstances. Please pray for my daughters as they are prodical daughters. Thank you.
Thank YOU, Cynthia, for being a longtime reader of mine. Your daughters are on my heart today, as I know they are on God’s heart. This is my prayer for you and them today: “Lord, thank You that You know Cynthia’s girls — every detail of their lives, all they are going through, and what it’s going to take to bring them back to You. Convict their hearts, show up at every turn, remind them of what they’ve been taught, and in the Name of Jesus, I ask that Cynthia’s Christmas gift this year would be to experience a deep hope in YOU as she sees each of her daughters’ hearts soften toward you as they begin their journey back to Your heart. Thank You, God, that our hope is not in our circumstances, or in other’s choices or actions, but in YOU — the God who never slumbers, nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4).
That was awesome! That is what has happened to me. After losing my Mother, I fell into addiction but did not stay in that long as My Savior put a quick stop to that. In the meantime lost my home and my home was robbed. BUT, My daughter and Son (in-law) Love him like my own, saw fit to make room in their home some 4 months ago and we haven’t looked back one time. Jesus has begun to put in place blessings that will allow us to add on to this house. NONE OF THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT JESUS! And we all know this. My life has changed so much in these last 6 months all because HE LOVES ME (All of Us, Jesus loves all of us). Good or bad it does not matter, as long as I keep my eyes on Jesus, we will pull thru. I hope to some day be a part of The Rapid Response Team, so that I can tell others to embrace our trials and stay confident in Our Lord. He will not leave us ever! For he has plans for all of us and they are GOOD PLANS! God Bless You and your Ministry Amen!
Thank you, Lori, for sharing that story of how God has blessed even when you didn’t think it was possible. I’m sure others will be encouraged by it. 🙂
I’m so much inspired and BLESSED by the word.
Thank You.
And blessings too.
You’re welcome, Lorna.
I’m so encouraged by the word, may God continue to bless you and your ministry.
Thank you, Alice. 🙂 God’s blessings to you, too.
My mom is under Hospice care and lives with me and my husband. She is declining fast and has about a week or less. Prayers would be appreciated please.
Gail,
I’m so sorry that you are facing the passing of your mother any time now. This is my prayer for you: “Lord please give Gail and her husband strength at this difficult time. Help them to sense Your presence mightily and comfort them as they await the passing of Gail’s mom. Thank You that You understand their sorrow. Fill them with Your peace and may Gail’s mom also sense Your peace as You usher her into Your presence. Honor Gail and her husband for their obedience to You in honoring and caring for Gail’s mom. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Hi Cindi,
Thank you so much for your post. I also can understand Naomi’s bitterness. When you battle disconnection with your husband, financial trouble constantly, and troubles with a grown son who truly has torn my heart into, your world seems to be so troubled that its very difficult to keep a happy heart and a smile. I cry constant and i battle depression daily, but i constant stay connected to God because if i didn’t, i know i couldn’t battle this by myself. I pray that God will give me relief. I know things are slow moving but i remind myself daily i must stay in faith and hold onto hope.
Thank you, Kathy. I’m praying today that you stay strong in Christ, and keep your hope in Him, not your circumstances. 🙂
This is so encouraging. Thank you Cindi. May God continue to use you on helping and strengthening us. I face many challenges in my marriage and life but I thank God that today I will not longer allow any situation to define who I am because God is planning something great for me. Thanks again
Thank you for taking the time to comment, and I’m encouraged to hear you are holding your head up high, confident in HIM and what He is able to do through you. 🙂
Dear Cindi I’m reading your book When GOD Sees Your Tears and it inspires me so much.Thank you for writing this book.It brought out something up that I regard as a legacy I am starting an organisation for children with different kinds of problems according to their needs .I need God’s strength and power to help these kids . Please pray for me .I struggle financial
I am a pensioner GOD bless
.
Thank you, Sophia, for being a reader and letting me know how God is building a legacy out of your life. You are in my prayers, dear one.
I’m trying and it’s so hard. Single at 58, working part-time, homeschool 2 boys with special needs and being so alone is frustratung and exhausting. Looking for confidence in the Lord which I’m struggling with. First article I have read, I’m following now.
Thank you for following my blog, Sandy. My prayer for you today is that you will be aware of your blessings everyday– life, health, the opportunity to homeschool your two sons — and as you praise Him in your circumstances He will bring joy to your heart and so much more to thank Him for. I look forward to hearing how he continues to work in your life.
My husband of 15 years has told me that he doesn’t love me. I believe with all my heart that God brought us together. My husband has strayed from God and due to my work schedule we have been away from church. I have no real support from family or friends but I do know that God is carrying me through this because my husband is the love of my life and I will never stop loving him because God gave him to me. Please pray that God’s will will be done in my marriage
Belinda, Im praying that God will change your husband’s heart and hold your marriage together. My prayer for you is also that you will trust in God alone during this time of uncertainty and as you make the Lotd your first love He will strengthen you for whatever lies ahead.
Please pray for God’s will to be done in my life, I don’t want to miss his purpose for my life, pray to God to help me erase all the obstastcle from my way and make me to be who He create me to be.
Yes, Oluwatoyin, I am praying for all you requested in Jesus’ Name.
This was me when my ex cheated on me — responding before praying and thanking GOD. I lost myself thinking now I will be single forever now. God has just helped me be still. I’m tired and worn out with crying and missing him. That door is closed waiting for the door to open when it’s God’s will. Now I know God is more important than anything, person, place or meterials in this world.
Thank you, Marias, for sharing your very human reaction to heartache and your goal to be still and wait on God as He is the Only One who satisfies. Blessings to you, my friend. 🙂
I’m struggling to not be bitter. I am full of confusion about the Lord’s will for me. For five years my husband and I have been struggling with undiagnosed infertility. After many unsuccessful treatments, we felt strongly that God was leading us to embryo adoption. He helped everything come together smoothly and quickly, yet a year later, we’ve just learned that our 3rd attempt has failed.
I am struggling with why God would so very clearly lead us down a path only to close the door. We really felt like we were following His path for our lives. Now, I am full of doubt, did I misunderstand? Did I take things into my own hands? What now, Lord? Where do we go from here? Do we accept our childlessness and move on? Do we keep spending money and trying again? Do we start the domestic adoption process? I don’t have a clear answer from Him.
Hazel, I’m so sorry for the pain and confusion you’ve experienced. I, too, experienced a little bit of that when my husband and I struggled to have a second child, as a result of secondary infertility. I chronicled that story (and a few other infertility stories) in my book, When Women Walk Alone. While I can’t answer for God and His reasoning, I know from experience and from the promises in His Word like Psalm 84:11 that when He says “no” it’s either for our good and protection, or His “no” really means “wait, it isn’t yet time.” My book, When God Sees Your Tears (which chronicles the life of Hannah in the Bible, and also many stories of not understanding what God is doing) might be really helpful to you right now. Trust Him…He sometimes closes doors to grow us to a new and deeper trust in Him.
You know, I am a Christian and love the Lord so much. My husband is not a believer and it has put a big bad wedge in our marriage. We have only been together 3 years. I didn’t know the severity of his nonbelief until a year and some change in. I have grown bitter just like Ruth did. I dont know which way is up anymore. Our finances are keeping us from barely eating and I sometimes blame my husband for our circumstances because he doesn’t believe in anything. Well except in aliens and the big bang. I mean, come on, seriously? It even SOUNDS absurd.
I search for self help books, sermons, churches. Nothing seems to open his heart. He has a drinking problem too, which is the cherry on top of this messy cake. I feel like I am losing a part of my spirit, a part of myself, and I have started to really loathe my husband.. I don’t know. I am waiting on God and dare not question Him. But I just feel emotionally and physically exhausted. Anyway, I also blame this on him being 23 and me being 26. I excuse his actions on his age and immaturity. People think because we are so young that I am overreacting and it will soon pass because we have a lot of growing up to do. True. But my age does not account for my experiences. I’m older at heart and my husband acts like a teenager. I just wish that things were different and he believed in Christ. I won’t ramble, but that’s only a snippet of all the mess I am going through in my marriage and in my personal life. I am not the same, happy, goofy person anymore. I have become cold hearted and angry. A bitter person. And I don’t want it anymore.
Bre, I am so sorry about what you’re dealing with. Thank you for being honest and admitting the bitterness your heart is beginning to feel. My comfort to you is that God knows your frustration he hears your prayers he sees your tears. You’re right, there are no books you can give him our sermons you can have him listen to that will cause him to change. He will only change when His heart softens toward God’s Holy Spirit. I encourage you to release your husband into God’s hands and allow God to work on your heart at this time, strengthening and preparing you for whatever is next. If you are in the U.S., please email me your mailing address at Cindispeaks@msn.com and I would love to provide you with my book, When Women Walk Alone, which I know will be a resource to encourage you in this next year.
I was reading online about how to get your husband obsession with your wife and the Holy Spirit direct me to you. Well I’m a Christian my husband is not it’s very hard we have a 15 year old daughter and 8 year old boy. I think about getting a divorce a lot and just move out with the children into an apartment because my husband said he owns the house too his not going anywhere. Yes I was very nice pleasant I became very bitter depressed angry but after reading your book I’m to finish strong. Thank you god bless you.
Hi Dee: I’m glad you are determined to finish strong. Think long-term. Think about what is best for your children. God will honor you when you honor Him. You may be interested in my newest book, 12 Ways to experience More with Your Husband, which releases in February 2018. It is for those who want to recapture the romance they once had in their marriage. Please keep in touch. I care.
Am just amazed with what you are doing woman of God,God bless you so much
Thank you, Lydia. Blessings to you.
My parents both died and then we decided to move from our home of 35 years. I am sad and can’t see my blessings for the tears. I am ashamed as I know God is in control.
Phyllis:
If you don’t yet have my book, When God Sees Your Tears, I highly recommend it. It will help you see your blessings in the midst of those tears. Use coupon code THANKYOU in my website store to save an additional 20 percent off the already reduced price of my book so it can take you through the new year with a renewed sense of hope. Praying for a peaceful and comforting 2018 for you.
Cindy I recently became a Christian and was baptized June 2016, shortly before that all kinds of things happened my mom had a stroke and my kids had a visit from CPS. My son blames me for it but I was not the one. My daughter in law is the devil and she hates me because her kids come to me for everything and I know she’s jealous. She controls my son with constant hated for me and he believes I did this. They both neglect my granddaughters and I haven’t seen them for six months. I’m trying to get thru this but I just can’t. I’m depressed feel like God is not there I know he is but I can’t feel him. They told the girls they don’t know where I’m at and they don’t understand that I didn’t leave them. So I’m about to embark on an attorney for grandparents law. They use the girls because they know it hurts me, I just can’t let go. Please help
Reece Ann: I’m sorry you’ve been through all sorts of cruddy stuff. Please know these things didn’t happen BECAUSE you became a Christian. I believe God knew what was coming so He made sure you were in a relationship with Him so He could help carry you through it all. Don’t believe the lie that God will only give you what you can handle. God will many times allow you to receive MORE than you can handle so you will give it to Him and learn what it truly means to rest in Him. Through our troubles and trials He can make us more like Himself (Romans 8:28-29). Also, don’t make the mistake of relying on your FEELINGS. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). By expecting or demanding that we FEEL God’s presence, it is a repudiation of faith, altogether. We trust He is there and He cares because He said He does, not because we feel it or not. Feelings can deceive us. Feelings often change, but God never changes. Get in His Word….the Psalms will really help you sense His presence and trust in Him even when you don’t. Also my book, Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs will help you deepen your trust and walk with Him even on days when you don’t FEEL that He is there. Keep trusting Him. He will your obedience and your faith. Hebrews 11:6 says “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Keep the faith, my friend.
You are hitting home with me big time. It’s amazing how my sister gets to me, not to mention the rest of my family, always getting their digs in, holding grudges, giving me lectures and advice on how I should have done it. Some times I just lock myself away and have a mini breakdown. Then I see myself doing it to my husband, my heart is broken and I know I need help. I need The Lord to give me strength, grace and wisdom. Thank you for your words. I need to hear them.
Thank you, Kelli, for your kind words and your honesty. All of us are susceptible to drama if we aren’t constantly aware of Who needs to be on the throne of our lives…Christ not us.
Cindi love you and the good Work you just lifted a burden through this write up “when God becomes your husband” God bless you. had this view but don’t know how to put it. I can share with my church women with understanding now.
Mercy: Thank you so much for your sweet comment and for wanting to share my piece, “When God Becomes Your Husband” with the women of your church. There is much more on that concept in my book, “Letting God Meet Your Emotional Needs.”