Identity Crisis

Introduction

If you look around our world today, you’ll see labels everywhere: the depressed, the anxious, the poor, the marginalized, the lonely, the hopeless, the rich, the famous, the infamous, the courageous, the good, the bad, the ugly, etc. Labels can be useful, but all too often they can become a prison of our own making. All too often we choose to identify ourselves with our circumstances, especially difficult ones; and if we are not careful, we’ll find ourselves always looking at the past instead of living presently in anticipation of the future.

No one can deny the reality of circumstances or feelings we experience in our lives. However, as Christians, we must recognize that there is a spiritual war waging around us, and satan will use whatever is at his disposal to steal, kill and destroy. That’s why in 2 Corinthians 10 Paul says:

2 Corinthians 10:3–5 NASB95

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. 5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Walking in the flesh means that we allow these thoughts to rule our lives. We allow ourselves to become defined by our circumstances. We identify as depressed, or anxious, or lonely, or hopeless, or whatever problem or emotion we are currently experiencing. But we must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ! Our mind is a battleground, and with your thoughts satan wants you chained to your past. God wants you to look back at the past and learn, but to look forward to the future and live. Ultimately, how you choose to respond is dependent on where you find your identity.

As we continue our study in Ruth, turn with me to Ruth 1:19-22. In these short few verses, we will see a case study of a woman in the midst of an identity crisis and look at four ways we as Christians must choose to identify ourselves by, to be faithfully different, no matter the circumstances we are currently experiencing.

To remind you where we are in this account, we last left Naomi and Ruth as they have both made the decision to go to Bethlehem. Their husbands have died, they have no one to provide for them, but they heard that the God of the Israel is moving among His people. Naomi tried to dissuade Ruth from accompanying her, but Ruth gave that powerful statement:

Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God

So they embark on this journey. For Naomi, this journey is a retracing of steps. For Ruth, this journey is embarking on a new path. But both of them are returning home to their Father.

Ruth 1:19–22 (NLT)

19 So the two of them continued on their journey. When they came to Bethlehem, the entire town was excited by their arrival. “Is it really Naomi?” the women asked. 20 “Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. 21 I went away full, but the Lord has brought me home empty. Why call me Naomi when the Lord has caused me to suffer and the Almighty has sent such tragedy upon me?” 22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

The first way we as Christians must choose to identify ourselves is by reveling in the joy of Christ, not gripping our bitterness.

As Christians, we must choose to identify ourselves by …

I. Reveling in the Joy of Christ, Not Gripping Our Bitterness (v. 20)

A. Unpleasant and bitter

After years, Naomi has returned to her homeland and her arrival sets the place abuzz.

Perhaps we can imagine positive responses (happy or excited) and negative responses (shocked, judgmental, or critical)

Some of the women recognize this foreigner as Naomi. After 10 years living in Moab, she likely looks quite different. She’s probably dressed differently, she has certainly aged, and the tragic events that have befallen her family have taken their toll of her appearance as well.

When the women call out to her as Naomi, she responds by telling them not to call her Naomi, but to call her Mara instead.

Hebrew names have important meanings. Naomi means pleasant. Mara means bitter.

Names are part of our identity and Naomi asks the people to use a different name because she is identifying with her problems.

Her husband has died. Her sons have died. She has no one to provide for her.

B. Blaming God

Bitterness is a feeling of intense anger or frustration.

And who is Naomi bitter at? God.

She says the Almighty, God, has caused her to feel this way.

And notice the selfishness of her statement here. It’s all about her. No mention of Ruth, Orpah, or even her husband and sons. It’s all about what happened to her.

So Naomi chooses to identify with her past, with her problems.

I want you to compare this perspective with an interaction between Jesus and Peter.

Matthew 16:13–19 NASB95

13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Simon means “hearer”

Peter means “rock or stone”

Jesus is saying, Simon, you heard, you listened, and that has led you to have faith like a rock, and on this rock I will build My church.

Jesus changes Simon’s name, but He changes it looking forward to the future, not holding on to the past.

I think it’s interesting that the name Mara is only mentioned here. Whoever wrote this book continues to refer to Naomi by her true name throughout the rest of the story regardless of her own feelings, demonstrating her perspective is flawed. She is not defined by what she has experienced.

C. A new identity

Our God is in the business of giving us new identities

2 Corinthians 5:17 NASB95

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

New meaning fresh, unused, unworn

Passed away meaning perished, dead, gone

Our God is in the business of looking forward to what He expects us to become in the future.

What are you still identifying with in your past? What are you bitter, angry, and frustrated about? What are you still gripping in the past?

Don’t grip your bitterness. We must choose to be faithfully different in the midst of difficult circumstance, reveling in the joy of Christ, a joy that He has created in you a new identity.

As Christians, we must choose to identity ourselves by …

II. Recognizing the Abundance of Christ, Not Clinging to Our Emptiness (v. 21)

A. Full to Empty

Naomi believes that she left Bethlehem full (with a husband, sons, and provision) and has come back empty.

In Naomi’s mind she left with everything and came back with nothing

But is that true?

Can you imagine Ruth listening to this? What am I, chopped liver?

Naomi could have returned with nothing, but by the grace of God she returned with a daughter-in-law who is determined to go the distance with her.

Naomi is so focused on what she had that she has forgotten what she has gained.

B. Empty to Full

As we discussed when we started this book, the theme is redemption

Naomi will learn that even though God has allowed tremendous hardship in her life, His ultimate purpose is to fill abundantly.

What are you clinging to in the past?

Maybe its the loss of a loved one, the failure of a relationship, the loss of a job, the failure of health.

We can acknowledge and struggle with the reality of these things while choosing to focus on the blessings we still see in our lives.

Philippians 3:7–9 NLT

7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Is this easy?

It is impossible without the help of Christ. We must choose to be faithfully different. We must purpose to view our identity in light of Christ, the One who fills us abundantly, not in light of how the world says we must be filled.

As Christians, we must choose to identify ourselves by …

III. Remembering the Delight of Christ, Not Carrying Our Affliction (v. 21)

A. What could have been

Looking back at her life in Moab, Naomi is focused on what could have been

What life with her husband could have been like

What her sons could have been like

What her grandchildren could have been like

The problem is, we can’t change our past

Each of us has gone, or will go through, suffering

Sometimes that suffering is caused by factors we can’t control

Sometimes the suffering we experience is from our own poor choices

And whether or not we understand why, God allows the suffering with the purpose of preparing us for redemption.

But the difficult seasons in our lives do not define who we are. We should not carry our afflictions

B. Choosing to remember the delight of Christ

We must remember we have what the world does not: Jesus Christ. The only hope that can see us through the difficult seasons.

We must remember the delight of Jesus Christ

Isaiah 53:10 NASB95

10 But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand.

Why did it please God to offer up His Son? Why was God delighted in this sacrifice?

Because this willing sacrifice was the means by which God was reconciling, redeeming the world to Himself

2 Corinthians 5:19 NLT

19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

The delight of Jesus Christ was taking on all of the sin ever committed, sin which causes the anguish, and suffering, and the questions of why, so that He would reconcile the world to Himself, so that He would prepare the world for redemption.

What afflictions, what burdens, what suffering are you still carrying?

We must choose to be faithfully different, to delight in the One who has the ability to carry our afflictions, not try to carry them ourselves.

This isn’t easy. It’s impossible without Christ, but we are able to because of who He is

Philippians 4:4–9 NKJV

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Rejoice always

Not when you feel like it, but always

Be anxious for nothing

Difficult because we are riddled with anxiousness and fear, but possible because we know who holds us in His hand

Go to God will your requests

Let all of your concerns be made known to God

Knowing who holds you in His hand, who has the ability to carry your afflictions, focus on Christ and you will have peace that the neither you nor the world can explain

Dwell on the goodness, the blessings, of Christ instead of allowing whatever pain you are experiencing to eat you alive.

As Christians, we must choose to identify ourselves by …

IV. Recounting the Blessings of Christ, Not Holding to Our Perceived Misfortunes (v. 21)

A. What is broken

Everything in Naomi’s life has been turned upside down. Like Job and others in Scripture, she recognizes that God is in complete control, meaning He has allowed this brokenness in her life to take place.

Though this fact may be difficult for us to reconcile, it is actually a beautiful truth for us to hold on to.

In the midst of brokenness, the blessings of God are most clearly recognized. As we will see:

Naomi has returned home to a God who welcomes her

Naomi has returned home to a people who receive her

Naomi has returned home not alone, but with a faithful companion who will walk these tumultuous times with her.

Even in your life, the blessings and brokenness exist together. But we must choose to be faithfully different, to recount the blessings of Christ in our life, not hold on to what we perceive to be misfortune.

Why?

Romans 8:31–39 NASB95

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For Your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

In all these things we overwhelmingly conquer

Not almost conquer. Not barely conquer. By the power of Christ, we have the ability to face and overcome whatever struggles we may experience in this life

Conclusion — As Christians, We Must Choose to Take the Step, Even if We Cannot See the Ultimate Destination (v. 22)

Even after all of the questioning. Even after all the frustration. Even after all of the anger, the final verse ends with faith-filled hope:

22 So Naomi returned from Moab, accompanied by her daughter-in-law Ruth, the young Moabite woman. They arrived in Bethlehem in late spring, at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Naomi couldn’t understand why God was allowing this to happen. She couldn’t see the larger picture that God was painting. And yet she still returned to her Father with the smallest sliver of faith propelling her forward.