Welcome to today's encouragement from Our Daily Bread.

I'm Mike Whitmer, and I titled Our Reading, What's Your Name?

Jen remarried after her first husband died.

The children of her new husband never accepted her. And now that he's

passed away too, they hate her for remaining in their childhood home. Her husband left a modest sum

to provide for her. His kids say she's stealing their inheritance. Jen is understandably discouraged,

and she's grown bitter.

In the book of Ruth, Naomi's husband moved the family to Moab, where he and their two sons died.

Years later, Naomi returned to Bethlehem empty-handed, except for her daughter-in-law Ruth.

The town was stirred and asked,

Can this be Naomi? She said they shouldn't use that name, which means my pleasant one.

She said they should call her Mara, which means bitter, because I went away full,

but the Lord has brought me back empty.

Is there a chance your name is bitter? You've been disappointed by friends, family,

or declining health. You deserved better, but you didn't get it. Now, you're bitter.

Naomi came back to Bethlehem bitter, but she came back.

You can come home too. Come to Jesus, the descendant of Ruth, born in Bethlehem.

Rest in his love. In time, God replaced Naomi's bitterness with a joyful

fulfillment of his perfect plan. He can replace your bitterness too. Come home to him.

Today's Our Daily Bread devotional scripture reading is from Ruth Chapter 1, verses 3 through 8,

and verses 15 through 21.

Now Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died, and she was left with her two sons.

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