Joel M Bradshaw

13So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bore a son. 14Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! 15He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” 

16Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. 17And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.–Ruth 4

You have to love the Book of Ruth. Such a sweet story of God’s faithfulness. The greatest king of Israel, David, would have such amazing people in his lineage. He would have a man in Boaz who was a family redeemer in that he restored Naomi’s losses and provided for and raised the heir of her dead son. David would have a foreign woman Ruth who left her comfort zones to cling to her mother in law and her God. And David would have in Naomi a great-great-grandmother a woman who learned to trust God in the darkest season of her life and became an example to others.

Earlier in the book, the women of the town got to witness Naomi’s bitterness at God. And now they celebrated with her over God’s faithfulness. This tells us that Naomi had maintained her new story, had continued to proclaim God’s goodness to those around her. You could imagine Naomi being the talk of the town for all nine months of Boaz and Ruth’s pregnancy.

In our depression, we should look for God’s hand at work, trust in him, serve others, and then proclaim to others the new story we tell ourselves. Good friends will reinforce the new story in us. God is indeed faithful! Look how he has provided for you! The women of the town here are evidence that Naomi in her depression has maintained her new hope.

You may not journey with depression, but you might have a friend or loved one who does. Be a good friend that reinforces helpful stories! The best stories to reinforce are Biblical truths.

Naomi was redeemed from her bitter story. She had hope that was centered in God and illustrated by her son in law and baby grandson. Much later, Isaiah would utter these words…

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:1-3a)

Those words were given to Naomi’s distant relatives in Babylonian exile. God uses our stories for his glory. He created us, called us, and claims us. He leads us through difficult and messy seasons with a greater purpose in mind.

I love that God said he formed us. That word also has a pottery or metalworking theme. And such things are first shaped and then are hardened in the fire. God was forming Naomi through her mental and emotional struggles. He led her through a season of pain. He worked in her story in a manner that even depressed Naomi could see it. And he accomplished a plan unlike anything Naomi or her friends could imagine.

The path in the midst of depression must be centered on God. Had Naomi continued to focus solely on herself and her story, she never would have found joy. She is one of my favorite Bible characters for a reason. It’s my depression story, too.–JMB