If you have watched the news or been on any form of social media in the last week, you have seen images of bombings, shootings and war. Our world is in a state of chaos, confusion and hurt. Paris and Lebanon were both victims of terrorism. There are millions of Syrian refugees without food, shelter or safety.
So what do we do?
What do we do with the pain and loss?
What do we do with all of the displaced refugees?
What does it mean to show love to the world?
How should we respond: as a world, a nation, a state and a Christian?
Honestly, I don’t have many of the answers to these questions, as I am still asking them myself; however, there are a few things I do know. I know that God is still good. I know that God is at work for His people. I know that the devil might have a hold of the world, but the victory is ultimately the Lord’s.
““Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Corinthians 15:54b-57
A few weeks ago, the Lord repeatedly showed me this verse:
“I will remain confident in this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14
At the time, I didn’t know why I was being shown this verse. I now think the Lord was giving me this verse not for that current time, but instead for this moment. He gave it so I would not lose hope in the world; instead, I will remain firm in the fact that the Lord is still at work. We WILL see the goodness of the Lord.
I get asked often if I’m afraid of next year or if it is safe, especially now that I am so close to leaving. It is easy to become afraid and feel unsafe when we look around at what is happening. God does not promise us safety. In fact, He basically guarantees the opposite. 1 Peter 4:12-13 says “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”
We aren’t guaranteed safety, but we are guaranteed that God will never leave us to fight alone. C.S. Lewis executes this idea beautifully in his book The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
“”Aslan is a lion- the Lion, the great Lion”
“Ooh” said Susan. I’d though he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver…”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
God is good. He is the King. We have the KING of KINGS on our side. We don’t have to live a life in fear of what the world might do to us, because we are not made for this world. Trust in Him. Trust in His power. Trust in His goodness. You will not be disappointed.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation– whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life– of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps 27:1
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” John 16:33
