Mar
8
2022
Unlikely Weapons
Posted in Faith 6 Comments
What do you do in the midst of war?
What do you do if the war is not on your doorstep?
War kills, destroys, and dismisses human life as expendable.
War is not a person, but a person or people are behind war.
What do you do?
I have been struggling as I see images and read the news.
I have been sad about the people who are being displaced and who are losing everything.
I have been amazed at the bravery and determination of unlikely heroes.
War is complicated.
War is ugly.
War puts people on one side or the other.
War mars the beauty of what was once a pristine landscape.
We, who are an ocean away from this war, feel helpless.
What can we do when we are so far away?
Will our little bit make a difference?
Will our small offering help anyone?
A friend sent me a link about a bake sale at our local STEM academy.
The proceeds will be given to a relief organization.
I have seen colored ribbons on mailboxes as a reminder.
The ribbons serve as a way to show solidarity with people we don’t even know.
But we do know them.
They are us and we are them.
We share a common humanity.
We share the same earth.
What can we do at times like this?
Everything we might do seems insignificant in the face of such horror.
Everything we might try seems futile when continents separate us.
Everything seems ridiculous when our little bit seems like a drop in the bucket.
But our little bit is not futile.
It is necessary.
It is important.
It is a lifeline.
Sometimes, people far away from the war need a lifeline, too.
Sometimes, people not involved in the actual war need hope.
Sometimes, those of us watching from afar need courage.
Sometimes, those who don’t know what to do, have to do the simplest thing.
We can pray.
We can pound heaven and know that God hears us.
We can cry out to God who told us there would be wars and rumors of war.
We can trust God who grieves along with us.
We can put beauty into the world.
We can continue to create our art and write our stories.
We can sing more songs and play more instruments.
We can read more books about good and beautiful things.
We can fight darkness with light.
We can praise God even when we don’t understand.
We can lean on and cling to the One who holds everything in His hands.
We can read God’s Word, standing on His promises when we are shaky and uncertain.
I remember one of my morning walks when we were at the beach.
The town has a boardwalk, different from what one would usually expect of a boardwalk.
This boardwalk was built so one could walk all along the bay.
This boardwalk is the place to be at sunset.
One morning, I saw something poking through the boards.
In the space between two brown boards, I saw green.
I saw a weed that was strong enough to grow straight up from the reeds below.
It was strong enough to push through the boards.
The green color of the weed was stark against the monochromatic boards.
I remember thinking of one word: tenacity.
I wanted to be that tenacious.
I wanted to stand out as green between the dullness of the boards.
I wanted to be a source of life where there should not have been life.
I wanted to push through when the pushing through would be hard.
I wanted to grow above and beyond the expected boundaries.
I wanted to be that determined, that persistent.
Putting beauty into the world is an act of rebellion.
Shining light into the darkness is a powerful weapon.
Speaking truth in the midst of lies is the greatest display of courage.
Trusting in the goodness of God, when evil appears to be winning, is the definition of faith.
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)
There are weapons of war and there are WEAPONS of war.
We have to know our adversary.
The ultimate adversary is the enemy of our souls.
That battle between good and evil, between God and Satan, has a Victor.
That Victor is Jesus Christ, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
That Victor will one day return and everyone will bow before Him.
Everyone will declare that Jesus is Lord, even if they declare that between clenched teeth.
Nothing happens outside of God’s control or God’s power.
When all seems dark and ominous, there is God.
When all seems lost, there is the Shepherd leading the way.
When hope is gone, there is a day of reckoning coming.
When there are no answers, we can say with surety, But God…
I love this message! We CAN be light in the darkness depending on God to be in control. One more thing we could do is to give monitarily….but where? To who? I would suggest Samaritans Purse, who are on the ground in Ukraine helping the people there. I think we would be sure our donations would be used properly..
Sue,
You make a wonderful additional point.
God will use us in different ways as He has gifted us.
There is nothing too small for us to do to push back the darkness.
Blessings,
Gina
What an uplifting message in this dark time. Our light is always with us.
Sherie,
The smallest thing done for Him matters greatly.
Gina
Beautiful, Gina! Encouraging to know we CAN do something in the worst of times. So thankful for the power of prayer, that we can access our heavenly Father any moment of the day with our praises and requests, that he hears our hearts and will answer according to his will and ways – amen and amen!
Agreed, Carolyn.
We can feel helpless but we need not get discouraged.
God hears. God sees. God cares.
He never leaves us or forsakes us.
Gina