I had a kind of a
spiritual 'meltdown' a few nights back... after praying deeply and
weeping heavily off and on over the last couple weeks because of the
slaughter of Christians going on in the Middle East; it came to a
head when I saw the photo for the video of the recent beheading of
James Foley. I just sobbed and sobbed, prayed intensely and sobbed
some more. I have been praying for the persecuted church for years;
praying for them to be given courage, for boldness, for strength and
strong witness for those in prison.
But the peak of this was
so awful... I felt all joy flee away... that there could never be joy
as long as my brethren were suffering so terribly. I was overcome
with the desperate emptiness of having no hope because there was no
longer any joy. Life was meaningless without joy and I thought, “How
can I ever have joy again or what right did I have to any joy or
happiness while these tragedies play out in their increasing
intensity as the days go by. And what of the world wide persecution
yet to come (and the slaughter today is just a taste of that future
time) when the anti-Christ rules and countless will be martyred for
the name of Christ? How can there be any joy and how can there be any
happiness... how could I be free to think pleasant thoughts in the
midst of these troublesome days?
And I cried and prayed and
sought the Lord's counsel. And slowly, the beautiful dawn of
understanding began to sooth my soul and the Lord spoke scripture
after scripture to me... calming my heart, comforting me and letting
me see the 'big' picture. And these are the scriptures He gave me...
and I pray they will comfort you as well and know in your heart that
the Christian can have peace and joy even in the midst of atrocity.
I still pray deeply for
the Brethren, but then I leave it all in Gods' very capable hands and
I continue on in my day... taking joy in the quiet, sweet things of
His creation and being ever more grateful and thankful for even the
smallest of His kindnesses. I can have sorrow for the suffering of
others and at the same time bless God by acknowledging His love and
care and be uplifted and comforted in knowing that eternity is the
real 'world' while I slowly pass through this one...
Peace I leave with
you, My peace I give to you; not
as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John
14:27
For our light
affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far
more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,
2 Corinthians 4:17 (When Paul wrote this scripture by the Holy
Spirit, it was during a time of great persecution, and he called it a
light affliction because of the wonderful grandness of eternity
compared with the fleeting days of this short time in this present
world which are in comparison with eternity... 'only a moment')
My brethren, count
it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the
testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its
perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
... James
1:2-3
looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews
12:2
Weeping may endure
for a night, But joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
To console those who
mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for
mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the
Lord, that He may be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3
Indeed the hour is
coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his
own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the
Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me
you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but
be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
John 16:32-33
