Letters from Dire Straits

In Romans 8, we read about God's power expressed in the midst of the struggles that we face.  Paul writes, beginning in verse 37:

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
39  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can rely on the love and the power of God, no matter what we may encounter in our lives.  Even when we become despondent or discouraged, we can be encouraged by the Word of God.  In times of adversity, we know that those trials will not separate us from God's love.  So, no matter what your "all these things" may be, we know that God is greater and will do his amazing work in our lives through the difficulties that we face.

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In Ephesians 6, after he outlines the full armor of God, the apostle Paul encourages the recipients of his letter, which includes you and me, to be in prayer...
(19) ...for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you;
22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

A Christian doctor in the city of Aleppo, in Syria, has sent a letter about the desperate conditions in that nation after almost 4 years of civil war, according to a report on the Worthy News website.  It says that he wrote to the Barnabas Fund that in the midst of a bitter winter, there are no heating systems or fuel and that people are sitting and wrapping themselves with blankets.  He writes:

"Life is becoming unbearable and intolerable. Daily we have deaths among babies and small children, and elderly people because of the bitterly cold weather … tens and hundreds of Christians are leaving the country. Aleppo will be empty of Christians in due time.

"We are suffering and struggling to stay and preach the Word. Just imagine what the need for the Word is like. And this in spite of the mortars, rockets, shrapnel, snipers … the need for His Word is expanding and the needs for prayers are many.

"The situation in our church is going well. There are many new faces and new people are coming to the Lord. Yes, the burden is getting greater, but He is in control and in charge…."

When I read about this, I recalled another letter that was sent by someone who is suffering persecution in Iran, an Iranian-American pastor named Saeed Abedini.   His wife visited with President Obama recently, and the President pledged his support to see her husband released.  Pastor Saeed followed up with a letter, which was published on the American Center for Law and Justice website.  He thanked the President for visiting with his wife and children and he also wrote:

Nothing is more valuable to the body of Christ than to see how the Lord is in control and moves ahead of countries and leadership through united prayer.

Thank you again for standing up for my family and I and for thousands of Christians across the world who are persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. President Obama, you have my prayers from inside of these walls. I pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and blessing for you as you lead this great nation.

These two gentlemen, despite adverse circumstances, continue to place their hope in the Lord.  In fact, they used a similar phrase in their letters - that the Lord is in control.   We do serve a sovereign God, and we can rest on His wisdom and mercies.

There was a man centuries ago that was a prisoner who wrote some very moving, as well as instructive, letters.  His name was Paul, and despite His bondage, He spoke of true freedom in Jesus Christ.  Those letters became a significant portion of the New Testament, and are extremely relevant for us today.

They demonstrate for us that we can have hope in adversity.  The Syrian doctor, the Iranian pastor, and the New Testament writer all reflect a great sense of hope in Jesus Christ.  They acknowledged that their hope, even in trying times, can be found in Christ alone.

Also, we can reflect on God's heart toward those who are struggling or broken.  Our struggles can serve to overwhelm us or we can turn to God's overwhelming strength.  When we encounter difficulty, it provides an opportunity for the Lord to express His presence to us.  When we are broken, we can turn to the one who can repair our spirits and lift up our souls.

And, we can be encouraged to keep holding fast to His unchanging hands.   We can hold on to the hand of God, who will keep us grounded, who will offer us peace and joy even when we are facing those things in life that would get us off track.  His resources are unlimited and unmatched.  When we face hardship, He promises to be right there with us.