There is turmoil in my country…. I see the injustice and, even though I call out to God, I mourn because evil people get away with what they do and good people are arrested, deprived of their rights, and flee from the country. My heart breaks, and I weep over what is happening: for those who have died, and for those who have been kidnapped. I want God to intervene in my nation, but I don’t know what to hope for anymore in the face of such injustice. Help me and tell me what I can do. There are many of us that have these feelings.
Dear Friend,
It is extremely disheartening to hear of your situation. We totally understand that there are multitudes who have the same questions that you do, not only in your country but also in many others. In addition to repression and terrorism in countries around the world, we must not forget the places where masses of people have been forced to leave their homes and to become refugees in camps in neighboring nations. At times it seems like the entire world is in chaos. It is certainly a crisis. Does God even care?
When I hear that question, it causes me to think of the entire plan of God as revealed to us in the Bible. God didn’t create humankind to commit such atrocities upon one another, but He did create each of us with free will. We get to choose how we will act, who we will help or hurt, and what our values will be.
Unfortunately, our actions affect others, and in our world today it is easy to see the consequences that have come upon many because of the choices of those who have the power in their countries, or those who have seized the power through illegitimate means. Their greed and selfishness completely ignore God’s love and plan for each of us.
However, one of the best-known verses in the Bible gives us hope. John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that He sacrificed His only Son so that those who believe in Him can have eternal life.
The blessings of that eternal life are not for this lifetime. We learn in the Bible that the very apostles of Jesus Christ lived in extremely challenging times and circumstances. Almost all of them were even martyred for their faith. While still on earth, they were never spared their trials, but rather trusted God and went to their deaths with the promise of eternal life in heaven.
Circumstances may be the worst that you can imagine now, but several decades living on earth cannot compare with eternity living in heaven. Ask God to give you wisdom and peace today, and believe in Him for that eternal life in the future. Develop a close personal relationship with God, and He will give you the same hope and comfort that Jesus’ disciples had.
Wishing you God’s perfect peace,
Linda