We haven’t ended one war, another war has begun, involving more countries and impacting livelihood far greater than the other war. Starting with gasoline, prices start to go up, adding another layer of pressure to many families who are already struggling.  We can only pray that these wars will stop and life will return to normalcy soon. 

Perhaps we wonder why we who are not involved in these conflicts must also suffer.  Why does God not shield us from these problems just like He shielded the Israelites from the plagues in Egypt?  Isn’t it fair and right to protect the righteous?  The Bible tells us that in all cases, except the one in Egypt, the righteous were not exempted; all suffered along.  Noah had to lose his home and lived in a boat for 150 days (Genesis 7:24).  Lot had to lose not only his home, but also his wife, and lived in a cave with his two daughters (Genesis 19:30). Because there was no rain for three and a half years (James 5:17), Elijah had to drink from the brook and eat food brought by the ravens (1 Kings 17:7).  But the brook dried up and he had to relocate to Sidon. There God used a widow to miraculously provide for him.

As long as we live in this fallen world, we will be affected, we won’t be spared.  Life will be tough not only for some but for most of us. But the promise that Jesus gave prior to His ascension still stands, “And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Jesus asks us to see that He is always with us not half-way, but till the end.  We can hold on to His promise because it’s true.

There’s one verse that catches my eyes every time I read it, “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed” (Romans 4:18).  Against all we can think of and do to make us hope, we choose to believe based on hope.  This is faith.  We believe even though we have no reason to believe.  We hope even though we have no reason to hope.

Pastor Paul