After spending five months in Asia, and now three in Eastern Europe, my heart is troubled by many things. Something I shared with you all a couple months ago, was how wrecked my heart became after seeing all the sex trafficking that happened in Asia. Now, we all know that happens almost everywhere, and I was expecting to have to face it again coming to Europe. In fact, many people told me I would.
I was ready, and now had some experience, so I was hoping it would not come as such a shock to me this time. But turns out, that is not what The Lord wanted to show me here. God has revealed to me, yet another heartbreaking truth about life in Eastern Europe.
After being in our first European Country (Albania) for only a couple days we quickly realized how poorly women are treated. It is very much a man’s world. Women work to bring in most of the money, cook, clean, and take care of the family. Men, well, mostly sit around at coffee shops with one another hanging out and drinking. Not all, but most.
And on top of that, every 1 in 3 women are victims of domestic violence. ONE IN THREE.
About a week ago, I was eating dinner outside with some teammates, in the city of Dobromirka, when we heard some yelling across the street at a small local store. There was a young man carrying what must be a two or three-year-old little boy, yelling at a woman who looks to be in her late 50’s. Before we knew it, this young man began hitting the older woman. We were all in shock, because he is doing this in public, with many people around.
They continue yelling, and the young man does not relent. He eventually puts the young boy in the car, to go back after the lady. He pulls her back, and again begins to punch her with all his might. Confused, and enraged, I asked the locals around me, “Why is no one is stopping him?’’ The answer was simple and heartbreaking. “It’s just the culture”, a seventeen-year-old girl says to me, unfazed.
This is when it really sunk in, how bound these women really are. They are not respected, and have very little worth here. Men get what they want, when they want. And women just have to try to please them, to make life a little easier. And worse of all, they have no knowledge of the Gospel, and the hope they could have.
Women are bound in Asia, giving themselves away, or giving their own children away, as the only means of making money. Women are bound in Europe, forced to settle for what they have been told they deserve, and treated with little to no respect.
I know, every country/ culture has their own issues. And yeah, I expected to see hard things on the race, I knew this world wasn’t one big fairy-tale. But, I did not expect to feel the way I have felt for most of my race.
Angry that these women, children, men, have to suffer the way they do. Angry that there seems to be no hope in these people. Angry, at God, for letting all of this happen.
Why does He heal people in Thailand of their temporary headaches, but not save a young girl sold into slavery? Where is the fairness in this?
Now I wish I could say these were thoughts I only thought once, but unfortunately, they were thoughts I struggled with for most of my race thus far. And with these thoughts, came shame for thinking them, so I did not share them with anyone.
I decided I would wait to hear from God himself, to answer me, and tell me why this was happening. Why people seem to hurt most of their lives, and where He is through all this hurt. I waited for four months, before I got a complete answer.
He began with, “Do you believe I am good?” and my answer was, “Well, obviously.” Frustrated by the simple question.
Then He asked, “Do you TRUST that I am good?”, and again, “duh.”
“But do you, REALLY?” He asked. “Because if you did, wouldn’t you have confidence that I am working in all these hurting lives you see? Wouldn’t you understand, that the hurt you have felt in your heart, you only feel because I am letting you feel what I FIRST FEEL? I have given you free will out of love, and it is you, and everyone else that choose to do evil. It is not my will, or my chosen life for anyone to be in these situations. The hurt you feel for these people doesn’t even compare to the hurt I feel for them. I have given you all the truth in my word, I have told you to choose GOOD, but it is now up to you to choose it. I will not force anyone, but wait patiently for them to choose ME. I am waiting on them to LET me save them. I am not holding out, but by their side always, eagerly waiting for them to see it themselves. Waiting for them to want freedom. I love them, more than you know. My plans for them have always been, and are still good.”
It finally dawned on me, how GOOD our God really is. I have heard people talk about God’s goodness hundreds of times, and I understood it. But I think for the first time, I began to fully believe it in my heart. And see, He took me across the world, to some of the darkest places, to reveal that to me.
He has given us everything, yet we still choose bondage and sin. Even us Christians. We have the good news, and we know there are people out in the world lost, yet we choose the comfortability of the lives we are living instead of pursuing the lost. We are not willing. God’s not the problem, WE (human beings) are the problem.
Myself included, when I know The Lord is prompting me to share with someone, and I don’t, in fear of rejection, I am at fault. I can’t look up to The Lord with frustration about why things are the way they are, If I myself am not willing to do something about it, too. We have all the power of Christ in us, and partnered with God, we CAN bring so much good to this world.
I hope this does not come off condemning, but so encouraging. For so long, I had given up hope that I could actually make a difference in this world. It was all up to God. But, NO. God has given US all the power, and some really big plans. He wants us to boldly step out healing people, bringing good, and seeing miracles before our eyes.
Of course, it’s all in His will and His time, but it’s up to us, the believers that know there are souls out there longing for Him. Maybe that soul is your neighbor? Your teacher/student? Or souls far away in different continents.
It is so exciting; the life God has called us all to. To save lives. To give hope. To help others realize their own value and worth. To bring FREEDOM. Because, God does care, and HE IS GOOD.
And I can confidently say, and believe that NOW.
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
Jeremiah 31:3
