But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

For me, the name “Naomi” holds family significance, symbolizing faith and resilience. My grandmother Naomi, a quietly influential woman, endured a tough life with strength and steadfast faith. She and my grandfather raised six children through hardship, hunger, conflict, and unrest. She endured seven years of loneliness while my grandfather fought to free our nation. After he returned, she suffered domestic violence from him, as he was recovering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Later, she was widowed when he died of lung cancer.

Naomi, my grandmother, held onto her hope in God through hardships, loneliness, and desperation. She remained joyful, patient, and faithful in prayer, trusting that God would see her through and bring her out. And He did. When she went to be with the Lord, people remembered her for the way she lived her faith with strength and hope in God. Her legacy continues through her lineage, with many family members named after her.

In the biblical book of Ruth, Naomi faced great adversity, losing her husband and sons. Overcome with grief, she decided to return to Bethlehem, tearfully bidding farewell to Orpah and Ruth. She felt too old to marry again or have children, and had lost her purpose.

While Orpah left, Ruth remained loyal, becoming Naomi’s avenue to recovery. Ruth decided to go with Naomi, showing admirable determination. In Ruth 1:16, she said, “Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Naomi allowed Ruth to accompany her.

When they arrived in Bethlehem, the people recognized Naomi, but much had changed. In Ruth 1:19, the women exclaimed, “Can this be Naomi?” Life had worn her down; she looked different and didn’t recognize herself. No longer a wife or mother, she had lost her identity, feeling lost and insignificant—unwilling to connect with her painful past. She told her friends, “Don’t call me Naomi. … Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me” (Ruth 1:20-21).

Loss and adversity had taken a toll on Naomi, leaving her bitter and disconnected from goodness. Unbeknownst to her, Boaz, a relative of her late husband, helped restore her. Guided by Naomi’s wisdom, Ruth gained Boaz’s favor, marrying her and preserving both the property and name of Elimelek in his hometown.

Later, Ruth bore Obed, who was part of Jesus’ lineage and the one through whom God restored Naomi. In Ruth 4:14-15, the women praised the Lord for providing a guardian-redeemer and for renewing Naomi’s life. They highlighted Ruth’s love and said she was better than seven sons. Naomi embraced her original name, meaning pleasant, as God turned her mourning into dancing and sorrow into joy. She no longer mourned but rejoiced in Bethlehem, holding her grandson Obed and seeing Ruth and Boaz flourish. She embraced a hopeful future with her loving new family.

Just as He did for Naomi, God assures us of His steadfast presence amid adversity and trials. In Jeremiah 29:11 He declares, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Whether you are facing loss or pain, may you find rest in God, the source of all comfort and hope. I pray for you, as Romans 15:13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

By Jennifer Macharia, BLI Global Staff, Kenya