When faced with insurmountable obstacles, the natural inclination is to look inwards and despair in hopelessness. Despairing Christians and churches are extremely vulnerable to spiritual attack.

The best remedy for despair and hopelessness is to look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1,2). Our eyes must not be set on the earthly reality but be focused on the heavenly reality. While the earthly reality may be that we are weak, outnumbered, overrun and without sufficient allies or resources in the world, the heavenly reality is always that we have a Father in heaven who knows us and loves us. Furthermore, our heavenly Father is not a mere man – he is the Sovereign Lord, the Almighty God, the creator of everything seen and unseen and the author and procurer of redemption. As his love, mercy and wisdom are unfathomable, so are his power, sovereignty and supremacy.

'Nothing will be impossible with God.'

Are we concerned that we have no resources?
God created the world from nothing. (Genesis 1)

Are we discouraged by the depth of the darkness?
'And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.' (v3)

Do we feel helpless in the face of the violent conflicts and jihads devastating Christian communities and nations?
'And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters." ' (v6)

Are we discouraged by our personal inability to provide refuge to our brethren?
'And God said, "Let the waters be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear." ' (v9)

Do we wonder how Christ can build his Church in communities that have been violently purged of all Christian presence?
'And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed . . . " And it was so.' (v11) 'And God said, "Let there be lights . . . for signs and seasons . . . to give light upon the earth." And it was so.' (v15)

Do we wonder how life can flourish when all we see is devastation? Do we fear that joy, hope and beauty may have disappeared from some regions forever?
On the fifth and sixth days of creation God filled the oceans with sea creatures, the sky with birds, and the earth with the most amazing array of living creatures. (vv20-31)

'Nothing will be impossible with God.'

While creation is indeed an awesome demonstration of the power of God, redemption is a demonstration of an even greater power than creation.

As noted by the great American theologian Jonathan Edwards (1703-58), when God created the world he created something good from nothing. However, through redemption God creates creatures in a state of grace (a far more excellent state than mere being) from creatures in a state of sin (a far worse and more resistant state than non-existence), despite immense resistance and against exceedingly great opposition.

Edwards writes, ' In redemption, the divine power meets with and overcomes great opposition. The power of God is very glorious in this work, because it therein conquers the strongest and most powerful enemies –  Colossians 2:15 "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in the cross." ' (From The wisdom of God, displayed in the way of salvation. Jonathan Edwards.)

'Nothing will be impossible with God.'

As we pray together on this International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, let us not be so distracted by what we see with our eyes – intolerance, hatred, violence, chaos, genocide, resistance, opposition, impoverishment, suffering, devastation, terrorism and other seemingly insurmountable hurdles – that we fail to see by faith our creator and redeemer, the triumphant and exalted Christ, the Lord God Almighty. He has not departed, nor has he changed.

Our hope is anchored in the nature, promises and faithfulness of God and in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 6:18). When we approach our Lord on behalf of the persecuted church we can come with absolute confidence and faith, because not only is our Creator and Redeemer supreme over all his creation, but his supreme authority is for the benefit of the Church (Ephesians 1:22,23).

'Nothing will be impossible with God.'

 

Elizabeth Kendal
Principal Researcher and Writer
World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission