What name are you calling yourself that God never gave you? In this sermon, Reverend Oma Williams reflects on Ruth chapter 1, exploring how hardship and personal tragedy can lead people to wrongly redefine themselves. She draws on the story of Naomi, who, after losing her husband and sons in Moab, asked to be called “Mara” (bitter), believing the Lord had made her life hard. But Reverend Williams clarifies that it is not God who brings misfortune—Satan is the afflicter. The message draws a contrast between Bethlehem, a place of divine provision likened to the church, and Moab, a symbol of the world and disobedience. Citing Deuteronomy 11:10–25, she explains that God promises abundance to those who obey, but disobedience shuts the heavens. Naomi’s family left Bethlehem during famine—likely brought on by disobedience—and experienced suffering in Moab as a result.
Yet even in Naomi’s sorrow, there is a message of hope. Ruth’s unwavering loyalty—“Your people will be my people, and your God my God”—shows the power of steadfastness and choosing truth. Reverend Williams encourages believers not to abandon their spiritual home in difficult times but to remain in a church that teaches the Word faithfully. The sermon ends with a call to willingness and obedience, referencing Isaiah 1:18–20: those who obey will “eat the good of the land.” There’s a promise of restoration for all who return—because God is making all things new again. Don’t embrace the identity of bitterness; embrace the God who restores.
