When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:17-18
If your heart is full of sorrow today, I understand.
The news from Israel has been full of tragedy, loss, and pain. The stories of the victims of the Hamas terrorists are heartbreaking. More than 1300 Israelis are reported dead from the Hamas attacks, and the accounts of the crimes done to their hostages will make your heart cry out for justice.
At home, we see more division and unrest than ever. There are the deluded few who defend the terrorists as well as their allies on the Left who continue their war on the family. There are children who are being taught to hate their country, despise religion, and embrace a victimhood mentality. It’s enough to ask whether some part of our country is actually incapable of discerning good from evil anymore.
What can we do when we seem to be surrounded by anger, evil, and unrest? What is our responsibility in such troubled times?
The answer is as simple and clear as a ray of sun in a cloudy sky: We must pray.
Today, I ask you to lift up your prayers for the people of Israel, who find themselves the target of a hate so profound that it seeks to wipe them from the earth.
I ask you to pray for our country, which is desperately in need of God’s saving grace and forgiveness.
And I ask you to pray for our leaders at every level of government, from the local sheriff to the President. Ask God to grant them the wisdom needed to guide us through these troubles.
This is the time when we must look to Jesus to find the inner peace that will help us endure the turbulence that surrounds us.
As Paul wrote in his letter to the Phillippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4: 6-7)
Do not feel alone in your difficulties. All around the world, people are joining together to pray and fast for peace. Let us besiege heaven with prayers and ask God to help us through our trials.
