KEEP PRAYING
Hello Fam!
This week, I found it exceptionally hard to write anything. Nothing I planned to write seemed to fit in the context of what was happening in the world around me. As a therapist, I know the importance of not being “tone-deaf.” Sometimes what people need is to talk about what’s really going on in their lives, so they can deal with it more easily.
For the past few weeks, my spirit has been extremely troubled by the situation in Ukraine. It’s a war. An invasion. An attack on innocent people. I have felt like a helpless voyeur, reading the news every day and not being able to do a thing about the atrocities that are occurring. I have cried and prayed and wondered when God was going to act on behalf of the people in Ukraine. To be honest, I became frustrated with God this week (He can handle it) because I wanted all the killings in Ukraine and all over the world to stop immediately.
The images of families being killed, hospitals being bombed, and war-torn evacuees rushing to escape, leaving their homes and possessions behind, broke my heart.
As a stock investor, I try my best to keep up with world financial news. I read how the value of the Russian ruble dropped considerably due to the sanctions placed on the country by the U.S. and other NATO members. I felt for the innocent people in Russia, who are taking an economic blow for something that isn’t their fault; they are suffering because of the choices their leader is making.
I know what it’s like to have financial troubles. I raised my son as a single mom, often doing what I had to do to make ends meet. I know the anxiety that overtakes you when you worry (instead of trusting God) about not having enough. I imagined some Russian mother, desperate and racked with anxiety when the value of the ruble dropped to record lows, wondering how she was going to make it.
Again, I felt helpless. All I could do was cry out to God and pray. I asked Him to forgive us (His creation) for being hate-mongers, murderers, and liars. I asked for a reprieve from the violence. I asked Him to use me to help the people in Ukraine in some way. This was all I could do.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
As Christians, we have no other recourse when things go wrong—when life is unbearable. Many times, we can’t fix the things that we worry about most. We can only cry out to our Father. Nothing and no one else can fix our un-fixable situations. A popular author, Marie Forleo, has a book called Everything is Figureoutable. I love many of her personal development teachings and classes. But in my mind, sometimes I’m thinking, uh Marie…I don’t know about that everything is figureoutable stuff. You see, only God can figure out some things. Our figuring and God’s figuring just aren’t the same. Like I’ve told you before, sometimes when I figure out something, I turn my situation into a complete hot mess! But God knows what we need.
Matthew 6:8
“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
God knew this situation in Ukraine was going to occur. He is not blind-sided by what happens in life, even though we often are. No, I don’t pretend to understand why God allows some events to happen. All I know is that He requires that we trust Him and that He wants us to bring all our burdens and cares to Him.
1 Peter 5:7
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
And so, I pray. I pray for the situations I cannot fix. I pray about the anger and frustration I feel in my heart when God seems to be taking too long to do something I want to be done. I pray for the strength of other Christians who are praying as I am. I pray that they don’t get weary, and if they do, I pray that God will prop them back up.
I asked God to use me in some way to help the people of Ukraine, and I realize that God is using me when I pray for others.
If you have been troubled by the events in Ukraine or situations in your own life, I want to remind you to KEEP PRAYING. God is listening. And He answers our prayers. God Bless you!
Until next time,
Grow You. God’s Way.
Sherrhonda
Great job cousin
Great job cousin