A witness:

I was alone in my car in the driveway at home when I was hijacked by two men. They pressed a firearm against my head. They wanted to take me with them. I closed my eyes, prayed quickly and asked: O Lord, what can I do? I was so afraid. My husband was waiting for me inside the house, not knowing what was happening behind the garage door.

I opened the car door, pushing the man off balance, jumped out, leaving everything behind and ran. They got away with everything: My car, my handbag, the keys to my house, including the safe keys – all gone.

Afterwards I was afraid to return to my house. Why, why? I asked. I went for counselling, but that did not help much.

One afternoon as I was driving home I started talking to the Lord, saying: “Lord, I’m your child, why do You let these things happen to Your children? Lord, I don’t ask much, please just keep me safe from all the attacks every day and get me home safely.

It took a lot of time, but my prayers and trust in the Lord got me through it. I conquered my fears and gained peace of mind and eventually I could go back home every day as before.

I know it’s difficult to adjust and to feel safe in your own home again, but without prayers and trust in God it will be even more difficult.

For everyone who has been in a situation like this I want to say: “Keep going. Nothing is impossible for God.”

This is certainly not a unique situation. So many people in our country go around with some sort of injury because of similar circumstances. So many people experience an enormous crisis not knowing how to escape from it.

Solutions and comfort are not easily available, but despite this horrifying experience, this woman succeeded in looking to God for help. Day after day as she approached that driveway fear attacked her and cold sweat ran down her face. But with the grace of God she grabbed the grace of God. In some way or another she got the grace to look away from her fear and hurt and hardship, from the reality of her experience, up towards God.

As Paul said: 18Even though on the outside it often looks as if things are falling apart, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. 

I know how difficult it is to lift your head amidst all these problems and to see that there is a solution. The mountain simply seems too enormous. But maybe we should do what she did and overcome our circumstances. Let’s believe wholeheartedly that God is here with us, even if our circumstances and our whole being deny it. Let’s shout out: God is always with us! Let’s get up on our toes to see the sun rising in the distance.

Click here to go to the Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Reflection

How big are your problems?

Can your eyes see past them?

Do you see God?

Prayer

Father, I’m tired of struggling. I’m tired of being caught in these circumstances day after day. I long for You. I long to see just a small piece of You. Please give me the power to do so now. Amen