Working in the arena of human sex trafficking...
and being aware of the depravity and
darkness that we as humans are capable of, I’m not surprised that I’m drawn to
“happy” stories; To things that bring joy to my heart.
Everyone likes a story that ends in victory; A story that leaves a sense of triumph instead of defeat. David bringing down Goliath, the walls of Jericho collapsing, the Israelites crossing the Red Sea as Pharaoh's army in hot pursuit is overwhelmed by the waves.
We love stories that clearly exemplify God's powerful hand intervening on behalf of His people. However, these monumental moments in scripture shine against extraordinarily dark and painful contexts. David was anointed king, yet had a long road of suffering and persecution before actually ascending the throne. Prior to Jericho’s fall came 40 years of wilderness, while the Red Sea crossing is sandwiched between generations of slavery and those very 40 years of wilderness wandering.
Everyone likes a story that ends in victory; A story that leaves a sense of triumph instead of defeat. David bringing down Goliath, the walls of Jericho collapsing, the Israelites crossing the Red Sea as Pharaoh's army in hot pursuit is overwhelmed by the waves.
We love stories that clearly exemplify God's powerful hand intervening on behalf of His people. However, these monumental moments in scripture shine against extraordinarily dark and painful contexts. David was anointed king, yet had a long road of suffering and persecution before actually ascending the throne. Prior to Jericho’s fall came 40 years of wilderness, while the Red Sea crossing is sandwiched between generations of slavery and those very 40 years of wilderness wandering.
Like
a diamond placed on black velvet helps one see it’s true brilliance, these
stories seize our attention and
encourage us all the more when we see the broader context. But what about that
rest of the story where we can’t see the radiance, victory or joy? When all we
have is the black background and 20 years of wilderness behind, with another 20
years of wandering ahead? When
we realize that the 19 year old women who’s now free from the horrors of sex slavery
also has a criminal record preventing her from getting a job, renting an
apartment, or just being accepted? What
is God doing in those dark times?
Somehow a pat, “christianese” answer of: “God carries us during the tough times” just doesn’t cut it. No mal intent to the author of the “Footprint’s in the Sand” poem, but...
Somehow a pat, “christianese” answer of: “God carries us during the tough times” just doesn’t cut it. No mal intent to the author of the “Footprint’s in the Sand” poem, but...
Where’s God when things are really, REALLY messed up?
Psalm 21 informs us:
“I
lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
does my help come? My help comes from
the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Romans 8 instructs us:
“Likewise the
Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we
ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning’s too deep for
words… And we know that for those who love God all things work together for
good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
“Consider it pure
joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds, because
you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let
perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.”
And
the verse most people have heard but don’t put in the context of pain and
suffering, John 3:16-17:
“For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not
perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to
condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”
These,
and multiple other verses addressing God’s intimate, sovereign care of His children
have helped me have hope through my own trials and even as we seek to offer
hope to women (and men) who simply can’t see any reason for hope in the midst
of unthinkable suffering. We serve a purposeful God.
We serve The God who defines and gives purpose, who has responded to the horrors of sin and death by drawing a line of His own blood in the sand and planted a cross proclaiming that even suffering is redeemed for those who are under his Lordship and in His arms!
I
embrace Charles
Spurgeon’s proclamation of immortality until God’s appointed time even in
the midst of suffering:
“Those who would
gladly measure me for my coffin had better wait a bit, for "the LORD hath
chastened me sore, but he hath not given me over unto death." Glory be to
His name forever! I am immortal till my work is done. Till the LORD wills it,
no vault can close upon me”.
That’s
assurance and conviction of God’s sovereignty, not only in the midst of trials,
but that even the very moment of death is in the Lord’s hands! And until that day, every storm, every
affliction, every trial I walk through is within His sovereign purpose to make
me “mature and complete, lacking nothing”!
It’s this understanding that keeps the Abegg family moving forward in difficult times, knowing that every beat of our hearts, and the daily needs we encounter are in the Lord’s hands.
It’s this understanding, this conviction that enables
us to offer hope to women who can’t imagine redemption for what they’ve done
and what’s been done to them.
That’s the God who turns Saul into Paul and
blind, abused beggars into heralds of hope. That’s the God we trust in and
where our hope is placed, day-by-day, until we have no more days.
Please
join us in trusting Him for the work ahead, and interceding for the wisdom,
discernment and provision necessary for each day.
Please visit our UWM SUPPORT PAGE and help us provide care for survivors and prevent others from becoming victims.
