There is a lot of uncertainty in our world right now as the United States launched rockets into Syria last night in response to Syria’s people dying from chemical warfare. Wars. Rumors of Wars. Civil Wars. Murder. Chaos. Injustice. Evil. The picture above was taken when we went to Israel. We were looking into Syria at this point with the UN base located in the white buildings. This was as close as I came to Syria and yet I think of it every time Syria is mentioned. I’ve watched a video of a young boy talking about seeing explosion of the gas in front of his grandfather’s house and how he personally lost 19 people in his own family. Nineteen! This is a 13-year-old boy, the same age as my son. I can’t imagine him having to walk into a house to find his grandfather suffocated to death by gas. Horrific.

How does this affect you? I’m still walking the fine line of praying that God will break my heart for what breaks His. I’m praying for those around me to feel what God feels. I’m crying at injustice. I’m angry at our allowable ignorance to injustice. What do I mean by this? Did you know that Syria has been going through a civil war for about 7 years now? Seven long years. I really don’t know what God is calling me to do about this problem, but I do know that I’m capable of praying for their safety and praying that God would change the evil hearts that plan to do harm and not good. I cannot allow myself to remain ignorant of what is going on around me just so I don’t have to feel responsible to do something.

I’m not called to be comfortable. I’m called to be the hands and feet of Jesus. These are the same hands that healed the blind and opened their eyes to see. These are the feet that walked to Jerusalem for Passover knowing He would ultimately be betrayed and killed by those who earlier said they loved Him. These are the hands that washed His own disciples feet claiming we had to be servants to those around us. And, ultimately, these are the same hands and feet that willingly accepted the dull nails that pierced Him and nailed Him to a cross to give His life for you and for me.

Wars and rumors of wars. They are all around us: in Syria, in the United States, in Russia. Look around you and you’ll find someone at war with someone else. Now, look inside of you. What are you struggling with today? What is the enemy of darkness trying to shield your eyes from so that you don’t see. We are in a spiritual battle unlike any other. The enemy is fighting hard.

You might be a battle for your life today but it’s only part of the war. I pray for you to have the determination to fight. I want you to set aside time today to read your Bible. Before you open the pages of this love story from God to you, please pray for God to open your eyes to see Him. Allow Him to search your heart. Give Him the wars you fight on a daily basis. Allow Him to fight your battles for you. He is Almighty!

Pray for those today who don’t have the strength to fight their own battles: those suffocating with the toxic gas of materialism, self-centeredness, pornography, fill-in-the blank.

We are at war. Don’t ease up. Gear up for battle soldiers.

1 Peter 2:11-12 (NLT): “Dear friends, I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.”

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

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