We’ve Been Robbed

We’ve been robbed three times since we arrived in Swaziland
on April 23.  “The thief comes
only to kill, steal, and destroy.” When
I say we’ve been robbed, I mean by the thief of hell. If we were serving 5600 children, it is now 5597. One was lost to fire, and two were hit by
passing cars. I wanted to tell their
stories – and to be sure they have them. I wanted to make it more personal by posting pictures. But I won’t. Their stories are sacred. Their
lives were precious. The images of their
sweet faces somehow seem holy ground. They are not for me to somehow sensationalize their tragedies.

I can tell you there were tears in staff meeting this
morning as the details of this latest robbery were announced. 17 years old, in town visiting family. Struck and killed by a car. The boy was remembered as brilliant and
respectful. His mother has lost 3 other
children – one shot, one burned and another hit by lightning strike.

One of our leaders broke through the tears with faith and
righteous anger. Xolani spoke from the
heart and the leading of the Holy Spirit. He called us to stand up and put our collective foot down. He called us out to fight back with the thief
stealing our children. A few minutes
later Marcia called us to prayer and we all pled with the giver of Life who
gave His blood for us to say no to the devil. Then Kriek challenged us to lead the coming visitors to put on the spiritual armor and fight in prayer when they arrive at the care points in the
mornings. Everyone recognized the
spiritual battle. Undeniable light
versus the blackest darkness. And so we
go – praying, proclaiming, and fighting for Life and Life Abundant and against
the spiritual forces of darkness that tirelessly work to kill, steal, and
destroy.

I have been contemplating suffering for some time and these
events of evil thuggary and brazen mugging of our treasures has driven me back
to this place. When one of us suffers,
we all suffer. The world is full of
wrong. Of this everyone reading can
testify. But what is the place of
suffering in our lives? 

I have heard it said that faith is essential for answered
prayer. As I battle in the heavenly
places for Life, I certainly project a prayer of faith. But I have a question. Did Jesus have faith? Was His faith perfect and complete? 

Somehow in His perfect knowledge and love, the Father
answered “no” to Jesus’ prayer of perfect faith to “remove the cup.” And in the “no” was the fruit of
obedience. An obedience that led to Him becoming
the source of eternal salvation. Wow.

Are you suffering today? Has the thief come to kill, steal, and destroy your life, your future,
your faith, your purity, your joy, your health, your relationships, your livelihood? Is your faith in God big enough to hear a
“no” to your petition? Is it possible He
knows better? Perhaps He is forming you
for a purpose? Can you battle in faith
like Jesus while accepting suffering in obedience?

Oh brothers and sisters. I shed tears today for those stolen from us. I will fight the spiritual battle to appeal
the blood of Jesus to the Author of Life. And I know the suffering I experienced in my relation to these events
was the suffering of Christ, for He shed tears as well.