I know Jesus told us it would happen. But when I see the photos of a little 5 year-old girl in a sweet little ruffled dress, being held up without a head because ISIS barbarians severed it from her little body... well, it's more than my brain can grasp. When I see a photo of a 7-year-old boy dangling from a noose with his pants pulled down, my brain explodes with horror. My heart screams for God's intervention. When a priest gives the account of a child being cut in half by these sadistic monsters, my mind cries out in anger.
"Stop the madness."
But it continues.
It's reported that countless Iraqi women are being raped, little 7 year-old girls being married off to madmen. Reports that ISIS buried alive over 500 women and children. Thousands upon thousands have already been slaughtered, maimed and mutilated. It's horrendous. It's a nightmare.
Meanwhile, we take selfies, and watch the exhibition football games. We swim. We eat bountiful meals. We waste water with squirt guns and water balloons as babies and women and children dehydrate on a mountaintop and die of thirst after fleeing death sentences from ISIS.
Then, in Gaza, their Hamas brethren lob over 3,400 rockets at Israel from hospitals and schools, all the while using children and Palestinians as human shields. There is no condemnation for their actions. But Israel is lambasted by the press, the President, and protestors because Israel defends herself and tries to take out the rocket launchers. And many Muslims in America support these people who claim to want all Jews, Christians, and non-Muslims dead.
Evil. Hatred. Atrocities. When ISIS comes here (and many say they're already here), will the U.N. condemn us for protecting our own, like they condemn us for wanting to protect our borders from invaders?
A seven-year-old boy holds up a severed head like it's a trophy and we ask "what do we do about it?"
We ban Bibles in Navy hospitality hotels. We ban prayer in malls and public places. We ban the name of God and His Son Jesus from speeches, and restrict faith conversations in every arena. We condone more and more sin and accept it as norm. We let our own government tell us we cannot put up crosses or place nativity scenes on public spaces because it may offend a tiny percentage of people.
And we wonder why evil thrives?
Evil exists. ISIS didn't invent it, nor did Hamas. It began when Satan tried to elevate himself above God. It entered this world when man chose to listen to Satan and disobey God-- to value his own desires more than the Lord's commands. It multiplied when the world followed after its own way and rejected God, forgot God, eliminated God from life.
So, I am crying on the inside...mourning the atrocities of man...the slaughter and the plight of the Iraqi Christians, as well as the perpetual war upon Israel. Evil abounds and my heart is twisted in knots. But, I read God's Word and am reminded:
"Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act,making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday.Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,
by the man who carries out evil plans.Refrain from anger and give up your rage;
do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.
For evildoers will be destroyed,
but those who put their hope in the Lord
will inherit the land." Psalm 37:5-9
Jesus is my hope and refuge. His blood was shed for my sin, and replaced it with His righteousness. I'm grateful the LORD holds these blessed persecuted Christians in His arms of love. I'm smiling on the outside...grateful for the blessings of God, but still, I can't help crying on the inside. In life, spiritual battles rage on, but the war has been won. For Jesus said, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." John 16:33
May God calm the storm within the hearts of those being persecuted around the world. May He calm the storms within our hearts as we sit so far away praying and feeling so helpless. May He draw more unto Himself. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Fill us with Your peace.
