Some of you may already know how affected I have become by the news of a woman’s beheading earlier this week… it was heart-breaking.
A few days before, there have been news about a volunteer nurse who has been gang-raped in Maguindanao. The right-side of her body has now been paralyzed. This morning, I read about a 13-year old student who was gang-raped by his own boyfriend and others – twice. Last month, we have heard of news about a high school student stabbing and eventually killing his own teacher with a knife.
These things seem unthinkable, but they are real and truly happening --- in our generation, in this country and with the news of the woman beheaded by her boyfriend, right within our community. I do not know how you feel about all these, but for me, I have started to become dismayed, disgusted and afraid.
Last Wednesday however, I began to wonder how our Lord Jesus Christ must feel about all these… I thought how frustrated He must be. He then began to make me feel how He must be feeling. I began to weep and wail and was crying so hard I could no longer breathe. Afterwards, He comforted me and reminded me of these things:
• His covenant with Noah. That no matter how evil this generation has become, God has promised to be merciful.
• He has reminded (in Psalm 23) that He is my Shepherd and that He will lead me beside quiet waters & that I do not have to be afraid. He reminded me that He can be my hiding place.
• Lastly, He reminded me that He is praying for me in John 17.
John 17:15 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.
God cares for us more than we know. He prays for us and calls for us to come back to Him.
Today I have been reminded and shown these verses:
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
Micah 7:18 - Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
My prayer for you also is to be comforted by God’s amazing love and mercy for us.