If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my short time here on earth, it’s that life goes on. Tragedy may strike one place, but everywhere else, life is going on.
There may be a drought in Australia, a tornado touching down in Oklahoma, a flood in Alabama, and an earthquake in L.A., but here, I’m still running my kids to band and soccer and football and youth group.
Life. Goes. On. It should. It’s supposed to. I’m not supposed to stop being a mom and wife and friend because tragedy hit somewhere.
BUT, I would be remiss as a person, as a Christian, if I didn’t allow that tragedy to impact my life in some way.
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” (Matthew 9:36-38)
The crowds, of course, followed Jesus on foot from their cities. Though Jesus wanted solitude, when He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, and He healed the sick and the lame. (Matthew 14:13-14)
Life goes on…so that His Life can go forth. So that His life and power can be released through us.
My life may not stop because there’s a tragedy somewhere else in this world. My kids will still need a chauffer and my family will still need to eat. And I am going to need a few minutes to relax at the end of a busy day to stay sane.
Sometimes we look away when we see tragedy because we feel helpless. “This is happening and I can’t stop it!” Because if we don’t look away, our heart hurts too much.
But if I’m going to be at all like Jesus, I’m not going to just look away. I’m going to be moved. And I’m going to do something.
It’s okay to look, and to hurt. To be moved with compassion. Jesus was. And every time He was, He took action.
And we can take action.
My heart has been so heavy for the horrific evil being carried out in the Middle East. I have almost felt guilty that I was sitting here in my safe country and running my kids back and forth. Cooking dinner. Baking cookies for band camp. Starting a Facebook page for my ladies group at church.
Almost. Because I realize that is just what the enemy wants. He wants us to put our focus on ourselves and not be touched by what’s going on. Not be moved. Not do something. But if I wasn’t here, alive and well in this country, I wouldn’t be able to do something about it.
Today I am thankful, oh so thankful, that my life is going on. I’m thankful to be alive and well. Thankful to be going about my daily routine.
I’m thankful that my life is going on so that His Life can go forth. I choose to be moved. And I choose to do something.
The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. (James 5:16)
I choose to release His power into this earth through my prayers. We are carriers of His power and presence and glory, and every time we pray, we release Him to move in even the darkest places on earth. Don’t hold back!
I urge you to join with me. As you’re running kids and cooking dinner and going about your life, pray. Release His power into this earth. Let His Life go forth…