A prayer for unity between one another…and between us and God
At this anniversary of 9/11, I am reminded of how much I love America. This country is where I was saved and my life was changed. I got my education here, and I’ve served the Lord here for many years. I thank God for America.
But my heart grieves when I see Americans stepping away from God. Here we are free to worship Jesus, but He doesn’t always seem that important to us.
I am constantly humbled by our dear persecuted brothers and sisters in Iran—for them, to choose Christ is to choose to be transformed; it’s not just a conversion to another religion. What good would it do them to be persecuted for Christ but not have His peace? What good to claim His name but not new life?
Suffering Brings Unity
Yes, for these dear brothers and sisters, their circumstances drive them into a closer relationship with the Lord. Suffering can bring unity—both with God and with others who are suffering.
This unity with God and others is what I am praying on this 9/11 anniversary for America.
Disasters Bring Suffering
In the past few weeks, Americans have sadly seen much suffering in terms of fires and flood. Fires up and down the state of California have burned tens of thousands of acres and property.
People in Houston, Texas, are sorting through what remains after Hurricane Harvey dropped nearly four feet of water over a huge area.
And Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina are just beginning to see what must be done after the fury of Hurricane Irma.
Many, many people have lost loved ones, property, jobs, school, and hope for economic prosperity in the near future. This suffering is similar to what our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in Iran experience on a regular basis.
Are Disasters God’s Judgment?
Some people are saying that all these disasters are a judgment from God. I don’t know if we can make that claim or ever know that for sure. Disasters fall on the righteous and unrighteous alike. The difference is the end result.
So I am praying that through this suffering, more of us in America will come to God—that we will know and love and lean on Christ. I am praying that through this suffering, more of us in America will work to bring peace and comfort to our neighbors.
Romans 8:28 reminds us that God can use everything for our good. May all this suffering in America bring much good to the hearts and souls of America.
And may we always rise above our own suffering to help our persecuted brothers and sisters. If we have each other and God, we have much.
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Category: Current Events
Keyword(s): praying for unity
Tags: persecuted church, anniversary of 9/11, God’s judgment, Christian transformation, suffering and loss
Related articles:
“Hurricane Irma’s Path of Destruction Retraced.” NBC News. Accessed September 14, 2017.
Shariat, Hormoz. “Lessons from the Persecuted Church.”
Wang, Amy B. “Largest Fire in Los Angeles History Forces Hundreds to Evacuate.” Washington Post, September 2, 2017, sec. Post Nation.
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