It is October 2nd and the time is 1:12 AM. I have to be up for school at 6, but it is impossible for me to sleep peacefully when there is so much chaos going on in the world around me. It's 1:12 AM and I am wide awake with a heavy heart wondering why there is so much evil in the world. It's 1:12 AM and I cannot turn on the TV or scroll through social media because on every channel and every post it seems like there's a new disaster. It's 1:12 AM and in moments like these my flesh wants to question if God is really good. It's 1:12 AM, but as I turn my eyes away from the recklessness of the world and look up to the Light of the world, the Spirit reassures me that God is good.
"I will pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are suffering and we will fight and continue to stand unshaken and unafraid together,"
It wasn't my plan to be up writing this tonight, but I know that it definitely wasn't anyone's plan for there to be a shooting in Vegas, for there to be hurricanes in Florida, Houston, and Puerto Rico, for there to be an earthquake in Mexico, for lives to be lost everyday to the war in Syria. This is all I have to say, when the unexpected horrors of this world leave us feeling helpless, I will not question my God's goodness. Instead, I will pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ that are suffering and we will fight and continue to stand unshaken and unafraid together, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).
"We will not bow our heads in despair, but we will turn our eyes to the God of hope and we will trust in His unfailing goodness."
We will not bow our heads in despair, but we will turn our eyes to the God of hope and we will trust in His unfailing goodness. When hate is loud we cannot afford to let love fall silent. When conflict is among us we cannot afford to be divided. When everything seems hopeless we cannot afford to lose hope, and when evil seems to be engulfing the world we cannot afford to doubt the goodness of God. The same God that was so undeniably good and Who's love was so unfailing that He sent His Son to die for us, is the same God that lives today. God tells us that there are going to be times where it seems like the world is falling apart but He says, "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). God's heart breaks over the cruelness of this world and He feels our pain, He cries with us. He has not abandoned us and He has promised to be with us wherever we go.
"Trust in the unending goodness of our God when evil is all around."
Stand in love despite the hate. Stand in joy despite the sorrow. Stand in hope despite the discouragements. Stand in unity despite the division. Trust in the unending goodness of our God when evil is all around. He is fighting for me. He is fighting for you. And He will never stop fighting for us.
