"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
I have written in the past about the persecution of Christians in Nigeria. It may be a subject that many of us don't want to be reminded of, but it is one that I believe we must face head on, and accept the reality that we live in a fallen world where evil exists, and where believers suffer for their faith. At the same time, we can draw strength and courage from these same believers through their testimonies of how Jesus helped them at the darkest time in their lives.
Jesus warned us that we would face tribulation, and assured us that even so -- in the midst of great trauma -- we can have peace because He has overcome the world. His power to heal us and help us move forward is greater than the enemy's schemes. We must hold on to this truth.
I want to share two videos with you which I believe will encourage you if you are willing to take a few minutes to watch or listen to them. The first one is just a little over seven minutes long. Pastor Josiah of Nigeria tells the story of how his wife and sons were killed by extremists. He was kidnapped and held for ransom 2 1/2 months. His testimony of how God helped him through the pain and grief to recovery is wonderful. The second is a music video How Long Oh Lord / Worship From Persecuted Nigerian Christians. It begins as a lament and then breaks into a beautiful expression of love for Jesus. It's so inspiring! This is exactly what our response should be when we are faced with tribulation. Please play both these videos. You can do so while doing the dishes, dusting the furniture. . .whatever. You will be so glad you did.
I love you, I'm thinking of you, and I'm praying for you.
That first video will be hard to watch.
ReplyDeletePrayers for all of Africa.