If you are like me, watching the coverage of the Russian invasion into Ukraine is just plain sickening! It seems the whole world is praying; and to be honest it is so painful to watch that we can begin to question whether God is listening. If you have followed my Underground Angel You Tube Channel, then you know I share seven steps of Good Trouble discovered from the life of Underground heroine, Laura Haviland. It is truly heartbreaking to hear the horror stories of racism and the Civil War where over 600,000 of our American soldiers and brothers lost their lives. It is extremely difficult to recognize good in the midst of such evil! In Ukraine when we see innocent children and families dying because of an evil man's corrupt power, we once again cry out to our God!
This season of Lent reminds us of God's Son, our Savior Jesus Christ whom the Father sent to earth to suffer on our behalf. Isaiah 53: 4, 5 says, "Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But, he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed" (NIV). Christ died for every soul that was taken by Russian forces and, though it is hard for us to understand, he also died for President Putin. Now, that is mind boggling for me!
We are also taught through the Scriptures that God has a plan for this earth and for those of us who live here. Psalm 47:10, 11 speaks to our need to bow before Him and trust His plan. "Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
So, today and in the days to come, we must remember that this world is full of trouble, but God's Son Jesus came to turn the world's trouble upside down. Before he was led down to the horrible road to Golgotha and his death on the cross, Jesus encouraged his disciples while knowing what suffering and death was yet to come. Still he comforted them by saying, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But, take heart, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
Please check out my Underground Angel You Tube channel and subscribe! I also look forward to sharing more information about our new Sarver Corporation Foundation over the weeks to come! One other way we can support the Ukrainian war-torn victims is through Franklin Graham's, Samaritan's purse. You can give online at samaritanspurse.org.
God is in control. Sheryl
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