It is a hard season. It seems like more grief, more struggle comes with each day. It is like the whole world is crying out in pain. While I watch the news and listen to interviews, it is difficult to even take in all of the broken places and broken hearts. It seems like so many things are falling apart, so many people are hurting. So we mourn with those who mourn ~ all the while praying, all the while interceding for those who are suffering… because, even as darkness seems to overtake the world, right in front of our eyes ~ our prayers are heard by the One who has already overcome that darkness. And, even as this Night ~ long though it may be ~ is filled with weeping, He will bring Morning again.
These are the days when we put our trust in His eternal perspective, in His enduring goodness… in the truth of His love, in the working of all things for the good of those who love Him.
These are the days when we stand on His promises given in love, promises of a story that does not end with death and a world that will be restored. These are the days when we put our faith in His Sovereign power, living with hope because He is able to fulfill every word He has spoken, every promise made. Even while the circumstances of the future are uncertain ~ a reality made more clear every day ~ we depend upon the truth that every tomorrow is held in His hands and His power to carry us is certain… for the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word. (Hebrews 1:3)
Jesus walked on this earth with us, laid down His life because our forever-futures mattered to Him. His resurrection crushed the head of the enemy. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work. (1 John 3:8) And because Jesus is alive, all authority is His ~ and, one day, the enemy himself will be completely destroyed. Darkness, death, and satan himself will be no more. Every curse of sin will be broken. Every night of mourning shall end.
Although the trouble in this world is almost incomprehensible, it is in His authority we put our trust when everything else falls to pieces; it is His resurrection power that gives us the strength we need as we wait for that Morning to dawn.
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. (Ephesians 1:18-23)
Jesus told the disciples that in this world, they would have trouble ~ and this is where we are, in the middle of trouble after trouble ~ but He went on to say, “Take heart! For I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33)
No matter what our right-now-vision may see, His Word declares that the children of God are more than conquerors in ‘trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword’. His Word declares that we have “all-surpassing power” from God… we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
(2 Corinthians 4:7-8) His Word declares that we will triumph by the word of our testimony and the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 12:11)
The Savior who is our advocate, our reconciliation with the Father, our atoning sacrifice ~ all authority, all power, all supremacy belongs to Him. This is the same Jesus who intercedes for His people. He knows every single heart that is overwhelmed with turmoil, every heart that is crumbling, every loss, every tear. He does not leave us ~ He does not forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)
I hope that we can hold onto this with all of our hearts and all of our strength ~ because, in a time such as this, we need to know Our Savior has already been victorious and ~ He gives us this reassurance in Rev. 1:17-18: “I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Knowing this, we will not give into despair but will allow His love and His hope shine ever brighter through us.
…My Word that goes out from My mouth… will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it…
See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and He rules with a mighty arm. See, His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. He tends His flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart…
I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.
Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoots I have planted, the work of My hands, for the display of My splendor. The least of you will become a thousand, the smallest a mighty nation.
I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly.
(From the book of Isaiah 40, 55, 60)
As we hold onto our hope in Him, as we wait for Him, may we act. It may feel like a small thing, what we offer, but our God is the God of miracles who takes little and makes it much. He is the God who hears the prayers of righteous men and women and makes those prayers ‘availeth much’. (James 5:16) May we intercede for our brothers and sisters, may we have open hands to help meet their needs. Let us not turn away from the darkness or fear it ~ because the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)
(resources for reaching out:.. to the body of Christ — and to those in Nepal)