Saturday morning I woke to a Facebook newsfeed filled with #prayforparis. Immediately I flipped to find BBC news and to learn what had happened. While I slept, tragedy unfolded on the other side of the continent. The whole world knows the story. We grieve with Paris.
Two days earlier Andy and I had taken an early flight to Southern Russia. It was my first time at the airport since the jet filled with 220 St Petersburg tourists and airline personnel had gone down in Egypt. We entered the airport through the lower level so that we could see the memorial to those lost.
Stems of carnations and roses were piled 3 feet high and 6 feet deep on the curb side. Hundreds of stuffed animals joined the flowers. Candles and photos memorialized those lost. My heart went out once again to my fellow citizens who had lost those they love in this tragedy. Less than two days later and a continent apart, people again died in the hand of terrorists.
By Saturday afternoon my newsfeed was filled with profile photos covered by the French flag. People remembering France's loss. People committed to pray for France.
Amidst that solidarity were questions from a few: What about Beirut? What about Israel? What about Iraq? What about....? Once again an incredibly sad event became a dividing line between countries and people.
Shortly after hearing the news of Paris, my mind began to play the bridge of Bethel's "We will not be shaken." I turned the song on and listened through a few times.
All those against Him will fall
For our God is stronger
He can do all things
No higher name we can call
For Jesus is greater
We can do all things.
For we trust in our God
And through His unfailing love
We will not be shaken
We will not be shaken
We will not be shaken.
Our world seems so out of control, so uncertain, so scary. The apostle Paul wrote, "Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12). While things seem out of control, I need to remember that this is not a human battle. It is a spiritual battle that I can fight only through prayer. It seems today those powers are unleashed like no time I can remember, and they are devastating the lives of average people around the world.
I must cling to the hope that I can trust God. Ultimately those who stand against Him will fall. He is stronger. He is in control. The name of Jesus is the name I can call on any day or night. I can believe He will use me in this world today.
This isn't a battle between people. It is a battle in the heavens. It will be won as Christians pray intensely for this world. It will be won as we proclaim Jesus and His unfailing love for others. It will be won as we live our lives so others see Jesus through us.
So I pray for Paris, and for Russia, for the Middle East, and for the USA.
I pray for so many places in this world that are so in need of a Savior.
I pray that He would use His people to proclaim His name to those suffering and those searching.
I pray that many would see that Jesus is their hope.
I pray that they will run to Him for comfort for their pain.
And I pray they find peace in Jesus, the one who will save our world.
Comments