“Don’t call me Naomi,” she responded. “Instead, call me Mara, for the Almighty has made life very bitter for me. Ruth 1:20 (NLT)
As Naomi entered her hometown, her old friends and family ran to greet her. They called out her name to which she responded "Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara (which means bitter). God has made my life miserable."
As you read through the book of Ruth, you notice something though. While God isn't in the forefront, he is definitely involved. There are too many things that happen as coincidences. One of my favorite sayings is "A coincidence happens when God wants to remain anonymous."
You know the other thing that happens? God's people do things according to God's will. They behave as they are supposed to. They take care of each other.
Ruth takes care of Naomi.
Boaz takes care of foreigners by letting them glean in his fields.
Boaz takes care of Ruth because Ruth has been so good to Naomi.
Naomi takes care of Ruth by suggesting she marry.
Boaz fulfills his role as family redeemer.
These are just a few of the examples of the reasons that things turn around for Naomi. God's people doing God's will so God can bring about restoration. At the end of the book, Ruth has Obed and this is what Naomi's friends say to her.
Then the women of the town said to Naomi, “Praise the Lord, who has now provided a redeemer for your family! May this child be famous in Israel. May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!” Ruth 4:14-15 (NLT)
What looked like a dreadful situation turned into a true blessing. God is always working. When we work with him, lives are changed.