You have cause to smile today! There is good news for you! It almost feels wrong to hear and say such things during a time of tragedy. We believe we should all pray for our brothers and sisters being persecuted in Afghanistan and for the safe evacuation of our soldiers, American citizens, and those who have helped us while we have been in Afghanistan. However, this prayer should not be done in fear. Even still, though believers are being persecuted and may lose their lives in Afghanistan, it does not change the fact that God has good news for you and for them. Look how the disciples responded to torture and persecution:
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah. —Acts 5:40–42 NIV
The disciples left rejoicing after being beaten! Furthermore, all the disciples except John were eventually martyred because they did not stop preaching the name of Jesus. If they had to do it all over again, do you think that they would do it differently? They answered that for you when Paul conveyed his heart’s desire:
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. —Acts 20:24 NIV
The worst thing to happen in this life is not death. The worst thing to happen is to live without Jesus. Pray earnestly for your fellow brothers and sisters, but not out of fear. Pray with a joy and a smile. God is so faithful to His children. He has not left a single one of them alone. This is the good news, both for those under fire now, and also for those who do not currently reside in a hot zone. God is with you. God is not stretched in His power or fretful over the condition of the world. In fact, I believe He is still searching like He did in 2 Chronicles:
The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. —2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT
Whatever issues you are experiencing, big or small, now is the time to lean into Christ. Now is the time to trust the Lord with your whole heart and depend on Him fully. Regardless of what problems you are experiencing in your heart, mind, health, finances, family, or job, the good news is God has the solution. Believe it! Don’t be concerned to bring your problem to the Lord while big things are going on in the world. Don’t feel under condemnation for having joy and peace when the world is in chaos and the storms of life are raging. You can smile even while hearing the world’s “bad news” because you choose to believe another report, God’s report, and God Himself calls His report “Good News.”
But those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired. —Isaiah 40:31 AMPC
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