Global Terror
Living with hope in a world of fear
by Tamie Vervoorn
What's going on in the world today? Bombs blasting British subways, war ravaging Iraq, rebels taking Russian children hostage, terrorists attacking trains in Spain, threats and memories of terror menacing America. These are just a few of the crazy circumstances that have rocked our world lately. In light of these things, how are we to live? What are we to do? Crawl into a cave somewhere and hide? Stockpile canned goods and wait for the end of the world? Run out and join the army? We might feel helpless in times such as these, but as Christians we are called not to shrink back, nor are we to be afraid.
At the same time, all of this madness is overwhelming, isn't it? It's hard to know what to think and what to do in response to everything we see and hear. Specifically, what can a teenager living in the middle of North America do about events happening halfway around the globe?
Young people have always played a special role in God's plans for this planet. Throughout the Bible, we see story after story of God using young men and women to transform their society and bring His kingdom to the world-Mary, Daniel, Joseph and John, to name a few. In times of turmoil, they trusted the only One who could bring lasting security and peace. In a terror-ridden world, you too can have a great impact. Here's how you can connect your faith to global events and watch God move in your generation.
The following are three simple and very practical ways each one of us can respond to the destruction we've seen and the danger we fear. Practice these and you'll find yourself more connected with current issues and better prepared to face events in the future.
First, we can pray. Your prayers have an impact! God responds to pure hearts and He honors the prayer of faith. The Bible says that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective (James 5:16). Don't worry if you don't know all the "right" words, God does!
Pray for the people who have been hurt by terrorist activities, pray for peace in our land and in specific countries throughout the world, pray for our president and other world leaders, pray for our military personnel to be protected as they protect us, pray for Christian missionaries and professionals to have opportunities to share the gospel, pray for Muslims in every nation to have a life-saving encounter with Christ. Pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven! When current events shake you, whether in your own hometown or in some place faraway, take time to pray for God to step into those situations and for people to turn to Him in the midst of tragedy.
Be educated. Read up on what's happening in the world. It's easy to get distracted and even consumed with the little things of day-to-day life: that pop-quiz in biology, the dance on Friday night, who is dating and who is not. But learning about the world around you opens up a much bigger picture. Only by knowing what's going on can you know how to pray. For example, while surfing the net for news recently, I came across a report on the horror facing children (and all people) in Uganda today. NBC reporters interviewed a United Nations official who said, "I've been in a hundred countries. I've been working with human rights, peace and humanitarian problems for 25 years. I was shocked to my bones, seeing what happened in Uganda. For me, this is one of the biggest scandals of our generation."* Why? Because in this African country, children are being kidnapped and forced to fight in a brutal war. Kids as young as eight are forced to kill-if they don't, they will be killed or severely injured by the rebels who've taken them. It was hard not to weep while I sat reading this on my laptop in a comfortable coffee shop. But now I know how to pray for Uganda and for the children facing this darkness each day.
Help when and where possible. My church recently raised over $8,000 to send a ship container full of medical supplies and clothing to another African nation. When we saw the photos of families receiving what we had sent, we were so happy and yet so aware of their need for more help. Jesus was all about meeting people's practical needs. He fed them, healed them and delivered them from whatever tormented them. We must do as He did. And while you can't respond to every need that's out there, you can choose one to focus on. Perhaps you and your youth group can write letters to troops in Iraq or Afghanistan, or pick one night a month to get together and pray specifically for current world crises. Another idea would be to organize something at your school, such as picking a village in a war-torn nation to support financially and prayerfully. And while it's important to have a world perspective, don't forget about the hurting world right at your doorstep. While you may not be able to heal the sick in Africa, you can take flowers to the sick at a local hospital, or visit them at a local nursing home.
Getting Personal
Perhaps someone you know lost their life on 9/11, or in the Middle East, or maybe you have a father, mother, brother, sister or friend who's serving in the military. These issues touch you on a deeper level than most of us will ever understand. But God, who watched His son, Jesus, die at the hands of hateful men, understands. He is near to you and to the ones you love. Take your hurt and anger and frustration and fears to Him and let Him comfort you. Let Him fill your heart with faith for the things you're believing in, and let the things that have crushed your faith become the very building blocks of your testimony. As Jesus once said, "In this life you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
* Quote taken from NBC Dateline's "Children of War in Uganda" by Keith Morrison & Tim Sandler; 8/22/05, www.msnbc.msn.com.
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