We can all remember seeing an old friend after many years. Maybe it was at a class reunion, maybe at the local coffee shop, or even at your children’s ball game. If you’re like me, it always feels good to see old friends. The years often evaporate as you’re catching up. Here, Naomi doesn’t seem especially happy to see her friends, despite their eagerness to see her.
The cultural understanding here would be that names are supposed to be a reflection of character. For example, if our name was “HAPPY,” it would be assumed we were indeed, “happy.” It’s not clear to me what the name Naomi would suggest, but she definitely preferred “Mara” because it meant “empty.” Naomi had lost her two boys and her husband. Imagine that! She had every right to feel lonely and empty.
Today, we don’t put the same emphasis on a name or it’s meaning when it comes to our way of life or personality. May be we can begin to see and understand where “labels” came from. Unfortunately, name-calling is a negative by-product of our circumstance. Here, Naomi is calling out her own pain and weakness. She was alone in the world and felt broken. Lest someone else belittle her or question her sadness, she wanted her name to speak for her condition.
How often do we lie to ourselves and have limiting beliefs that keep us stuck in the muck? All the time, that’s right. Things like, I’m not tall enough, I’m too old, I’m not talented, I’m not smart enough, I don’t deserve this, and the list goes on and on. What’s holding you back? That’s what limiting beliefs due best. Hold us back.
We spent a lot of time at our recent conference talking about smashing the limiting beliefs in our businesses. If we continue to think with small intentions, guess what — our business will stay small. Same goes for our lives. We need to stop focusing on the negative and embrace the positive. We need to have an unstoppable boldness.
Why, what for? Our lives are pretty mediocre, why should we need to be so tenacious? Because we need to be as God designed us. God doesn’t make duds, so why do we sit around feeling sorry for ourselves? We need to get out there and live. We need to realize that to get there we have to get there. Think about that for a second or two.
We need to be careful not to fall back into the pit once we’ve been rescued out. After all, it was pretty “cozy” down there. It became familiar and therefore it was our comfort zone. To want something better, even if we deserve it, becomes a little hard to grasp at times.
So, what’s the answer – how do we find our confidence? That’s what reading, reflection, prayer and physical activity can wash over us. We need to have that passion, that thrill is awakened. It is only then that we will be able to fully realize our potential. The potential God has given.
Let’s pray. Father God, I thank you for rescuing me and setting my feet on solid ground. May I always be bold and on fire for you. Don’t let the negative words of others speak into me. May I learn from you and the lessons you present. Awaken in me a new passion and confidence to tell more people about you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
