It’s never as bad as all that! – Ruth 1:

It’s never as bad as all that! – Ruth 1: 19 – 22

There was a change of her confession
Previously we read that Naomi had spoken of God as Lord. (1:8-9). The name ‘Lord’ speaks of His covenantal love.
But as she arrives back in Bethlehem we see a change of confession, (1:20 –21). It is this change of confession of God’s name that reveals what has taken place behind the scenes of Naomi’s life as she was trying to come to terms with her life.
The name she calls God now is ‘Shaddai’. It means all-sufficient God, eternally capable of being all that His people need.
The Christian who has grown to know God as Almighty (Shaddai) knows that everything that happens to their life, especially the meaningless suffering is already in His hands. This key is what enables them to cope.
Naomi was in effect saying, “Yes, its bad, I feel pain and loss, but I can leave all this in the hands of one who is all-powerful. I leave the explanation and the responsibility for my bitterness with Him. Don’t look on me like you used to, don’t respect me like before, my life is in ruins, I left the House of Bread with everything and now I have nothing, but all of it is in the plans of the Almighty (the God who is at His best when man is at his worst) and it is He, our Lord (the God who made a perfect and all time covenant of love with us) who has brought me back to the House of Bread.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. Isaiah 43:2
Your waters, rivers, fire and flames may be different and at different levels through out your life. But this is a promise from El Shaddai, God Almighty. “I will be with you”.
It’s never as bad as all that.