“Everything Sad is Becoming Untrue”
[Posted on behalf of Lisa Lopez]
I recently came across the above title in a song by Jason Gray (I believe the quote is actually from Lord of the Rings). This is my prayer for the women of Congo — that the sadness of rape and its effects will slowly but surely become “untrue” and be replaced by hope and freedom. I know this is actually possible because my God delights in “making all things new” (Rev. 21:5) and we can be “transformed by the renewing of our minds” (Rom. 12:2).
Along this same theme of transformation, I want these women of Congo to have joy! Robert Hotchkins (as quoted in The Ragamuffin Gospel) says :
“Christians ought to be celebrating constantly. We ought to be preoccupied with parties, banquets, feasts, and merriment… because we have been liberated from the fear of life and the fear of death. We ought to attract people to the church quite literally by the fun there is being a Christian.”
I fervently pray and hope that God will use us to shine JOY and ABUNDANT LIFE in Christ to those who are struggling to hope. I want these women to truly see how God has so faithfully brought people who were once emotionally and spiritually dead ALIVE through Christ. I want them to grasp how the blood of Jesus covers the ugliest and most inhumane of sins and I want us to celebrate the fact that through Christ, sin and its effects can be overcome!
I know we will “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15) — I am ready and willing to do both – but I still pray our entire group will plant seeds of joy throughout this trip. How can those of who have experienced healing from sexual abuse not be the most joyful and grateful women on the planet?! May we bring contagious joy to Congo!
In a sense, the fact that we have a sexual abuse recovery ministry (Shelter from the Storm) at Watermark is a victory in itself. I think a trip like this must be Satan’s worst nightmare – God transforming the evil of sexual abuse into an opportunity to “overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). It reminds me of Joseph talking to his brothers in Genesis 50:20 – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
When you pray for us — please pray for CONTAGIOUS JOY that will spread through Congo to the glory of God!
2 responses so far
What a great blog and amazing request of our Big God: to overcome this horrific evil with His beautiful good. I will pray in agreement with you, that God will , indeed, replace the sadness with His joy and hope — unexplainable, but wholly embraced. That this sadness would be so untrue that all their hurt and fear subsides – completely, permanently. And that contagious joy and sweet peace would spread like wild-fire throughout Congo. And, that this heinous sin against the women of Congo would stop. So be it, and AMEN!
Lord Jesus, I pray for the work of your powerful Spirit thru these people bringing about justice where no heart of Christ existed to reveal and uncover this evil at hand in Goma, Africa of the Congolise. Those of Shelter from the Storm Watermark ministries, courageous heart of Christ 2 begin to be able to bring about healing through tender obedience in God by listening,sharing and understanding what has been so diificult for these innocent young girls from 5-19, to know what hope, joy and peace is in our loving Christ from the hidden and unknown of robbing, threatening, traumatic, abused and inscestious rape . May we put a hedge of protection around these individuals all involved and expose this evil. So they, the girls can raise their arms in worship to a merciful Christ to end this bring about justice and enjoy Contagious Joy! Amen