On Thursday morning, February 24, 2022, residents of Ukraine no longer needed to wonder if Mother Russia would use force to invade their beloved homeland. War had arrived – by land, sea, and air.
In an unprecedented move for the tiny nation, the Ukrainian government hopes to defend itself by providing arms to its citizenry. A civilian militia may sound vastly inferior to a superior army – but the Ukrainian people may have an even more incredible super-power residing within her borders – the power of prayer to an Almighty God.
Using social media to broadcast his message, Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted a petition for his fellow countrymen/women to bear arms against their invaders. “We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country,” Zelensky tweeted. “Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.”
Even before the invasion began, Zelensky promised his nation would fight to defend itself. “If they [Russia] attack, if they try to take our country – our freedom, our lives, the lives of our children – we will be defending ourselves…As you attack, it will be our faces you see, not our backs.”
CNN reporter Clarissa Ward showed a different image than civilians holding automatic weapons on day one of the attacks. Below her vantage point above the central square in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Ward reported as cameras showed a group of about seven individuals gathering to kneel on the cold Ukrainian ground to pray.
Ukrainians gather in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to pray as Russia attacks. (CNN.com)
“I think this really speaks to the sort of desperation of this moment,” Ward explained. “We just see a small group of people…a small group of people has gathered in the main square, and they are kneeling and praying.”
While the reporter seemed stunned at what she witnessed, my heart rejoiced at the image. “Where two or three gather in My name, there I am with them.” (Mathew 18:20)
In ancient Bible times, Judaean King Hezekiah faced a similar struggle to that seen in modern-day Ukraine. In pursuit of kingdom dominance and through a great show of strength, Assyrian King Sennacherib’s superior army surrounded Hezekiah’s walled city.
Before attacking the city, Sennacherib sent a message that could have done much to intimidate the king. “Say to Hezekiah, king of Judah: Do not let the god you depend on deceive you when he says, ‘Jerusalem will not be given into the hands of the king of Assyria.’ Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered? Did the gods of the nations that were destroyed by my predecessors deliver them…?” (2 Kings 19: 10-12)
Sennacherib could not have known that Hezekiah would take his letter directly to God. Instead of feeling fear after reading this letter, the Judaean king saw his enemy’s threats as blasphemy against his Creator.
“Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.’
“‘It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations and their lands. They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.” (2 Kings 19: 14-19)
After hearing from God, the prophet Isaiah advised Hezekiah that his Creator would defend him.
“‘He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. He will not come before it with a shield or build a siege ramp against it. By the way that he came, he will return; he will not enter this city, declares the Lord. I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David, my servant.’” (2 Kings 19: 32-34)
While they slept that night, God took the lives of the 185,000 Assyrian soldiers encamped outside of Judah – leaving only dead bodies for the Judeans to count the next day. God did, indeed, fight for and preserve Judah – just as He promised.
While we know that mass casualties already exist in Ukraine – with countless others yet to come – we cannot discount the power of God to hear the prayers of the small gathering in Kharkiv and around the world for this imperiled nation.
Let us join our hearts and hands in prayer and petition for the Ukrainians as they face the dangers of war on their soil. God alone knows how this will all end. God, alone, is always in control.
#PrayForUkraine. May God have mercy and protect us all.
For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica (2 Timothy 4:10)
Our lives can be defined by how we handle the challenges we face. Our raw determination and courage often strengthen and enable us to overcome our difficulties. Other times, obstacles assail and strike us down. Perhaps one of the most debilitating conundrums we face is the feeling of disappointment. Worse yet, when dejection is facilitated by the hands of those we trusted, the ensuing despair can be palpable.
As a young adult, I longed to be swept off my feet by a love so deep that we could scarcely stand to be apart. Romance may be the stuff that movies, gothic novels, and countless enterprises are made of, but the reality is that true life seldom resembles a movie screen. As a person who’s spent her life seeking ways to demonstrate love to others, never finding that “true love” in another person has been a bit disappointing, to say the least. My experiences, instead, have been physical and emotional abuse, broken promises by another who claimed to “love” me, and beautiful words of adoration and undying devotion from a man who turned out to be married.
Friendships, too, have often proven themselves more discouraging than uplifting. I’ve had several close friends turn against me – one, recently, due to our differences on the topic of COVID vaccinations. I was shocked and saddened to have her eviscerate me, via text, with a message stating that my “egregiously selfish actions and ‘religious freedom’ are directly responsible for harming others.” That not being enough of a knife to my gut, she questioned the faith that drives my existence by stating, “I fail to see how this could be considered the actions of a Christian. I hope that someday you will be forgiven.”
My married sister once told me that “single people are selfish” while we were on a trip together to a place she wanted to see that I’d driven across three states to take her to. A recent call from her reminded me that she still feels the same. It’s distressing to know that no matter how I work to demonstrate kindness and love to her, she seems determined never to see it.
Today I learned that my mom and brother had abandoned their plans to move to my state. We had often discussed this consideration, but when an opportunity came for them to purchase the house next to mine, I, admittedly, began thinking how nice it would be to have them close by. Our once-a-year visits together would be replaced by daily encounters, affording us the ability to interact and share each other’s burdens in a much more literal sense. I hadn’t realized how much I was looking forward to all of that until I heard their decision. The ensuing heavy-heartedness hit me as yet another rejection.
That’s the world, isn’t it? People disappoint us. Friends betray us. Families reject us.
Nevertheless, it’s encouraging to know that God never will.
The Psalmist, David, captured this reminder perfectly when he said, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God.” (Psalm 42:11)
David knew a thing or two about disappointment and rejection. He demonstrated great bravery in standing up to the giant Goliath – thus saving the Israelites from Philistine enslavement. And yet his brother saw him as nothing but a nuisance.
“When Eliab, David’s oldest brother, heard him speaking with the men, he burned with anger at him and asked, ‘Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle.'” (1 Samuel 17:28)
After becoming King Saul’s helper in the palace and playing his harp for the king whenever his spirit was disquieted, Saul’s heart turned against David.
“The next day, a spirit of distresssent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, and he hurled it, thinking, ‘I will pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice.” (1 Samuel 18: 10-11)
Thus began a series of thwarted attempts by Saul to take the life of David, of whom he was jealous and afraid. Over the next ten years, David lived like a fugitive, running for his life from Saul despite never having done anything to provoke the king.
At one of the lowest points in David’s life, he recorded his sadness while living in a cave outside of the Philistine town of Gath. You may recall that Gath is the town where Goliath hailed from. In his fear, David found himself not only petitioning his enemies for help but humiliating himself in front of others – portraying himself as a madman to escape their wrath.
“So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands, he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. [King] Achish said to his servants, ‘Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me?'” (1 Samuel 21: 13-14)
It is then that David recorded a Psalm that detailed his great sadness. His family had turned against him. He had lost his wife and promised inheritance for killing Goliath. His best friend, Prince Jonathan, had bid him fairwell forever, and the king and all his warriors were hunting him out of jealousy.
Listen to the words of David’s despair.
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall. (Psalm 13: 1-4)
But the story didn’t end there. When David was at the lowest point of his life, he remembered that God was still with him.
“But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for He has been good to me.” (Psalm 13: 5-6)
David’s faith serves as a sober reminder to focus my eyes on my Creator rather than on those He created. The world and everything in it, including me, are flawed and imperfect – but God never is.
God’s love is ever faithful. God’s promises will always endure. God’s provision will always sustain. I won’t let the world or anyone in it determine my worth. God never disappoints, and I will always trust in Him.
May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in You. (Psalm 33:22)
I’ve never been a fan of holidays created to promote the sale of overpriced products under the guise of demonstrating love. Call me cynical, but in my way of thinking, Valentine’s Day serves one of two purposes: 1) the recipients of cards, chocolate, and compassion feel overwhelmingly loved in receipt of the same; or 2) the recipients who don’t receive cards, chocolate, and compassion feel rejection and despair in a more pronounced way on this Hallmark ® holiday than on any other day of the year.
I speak from experience. I remember back to my high school days when students could gift silk roses to each other on Valentine’s Day. These outward tokens of affection could be purchased and sent anonymously or openly, tangibly advising both the recipients and the rest of the student body that secret or overt admirers really existed. I used to dread the delivery of those roses during class time – knowing full-well that no flowers would be delivered to me.
And that’s okay – because I’ve always known how much my Savior loves me. His love matters more to me than anything.
As Christians, we are all called to demonstrate love continually – no matter the day, hour, or reason. There can be no more elaborate contrast between the children of God and the rest of the world than the love that we exemplify – despite our circumstances. As Christ said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:35)
A perfect example of this unique type of love is embodied in a story I read recently about a Utah father. While transporting his three daughters to basketball practice, Joe Tuia’ana spotted a young man poised precariously on the side of an overpass, just past a parked car. The youth had his hoodie pulled over his head and stood on the opposite side of a security barrier. This young man was preparing to end his own life by all outward appearances. Shocked into action, Tuia’ana stopped his car a short distance away, advising the oldest of his daughters to call 911 and remain in his vehicle.
“I got out of the car and immediately thought, ‘If you screw this up, not only is this young man going to die, but your daughters are going to see it happen,” Tuia’ana said. “I nearly passed out due to fear and anxiety.”
While slowly approaching the young man, who appeared to be in his 20’s, Joe called out to God, praying for divine assistance in this life or death encounter.
“From that point, I felt inspired to do what I thought Jesus would do: walk slowly to this young man, with your arms open to him,” said Joe.
“When close enough, I told him, ‘I love you. I love you, bro,’” Tuia’ana recalled. “He looked at me with fear and pain, crying so hard. With my arms open to him, I repeated, ‘I love you. I love you, bro.”
A few minutes passed until the young man finally surrendered to Joe’s demonstration of tenderness, responding with a simple cry of “help.”
Tuia’ana immediately jumped up, hugged the youth, and guided him back to safety.
“I held the young man in my arms like he was my own child and cried with him,” said Joe. “No words said, no questions asked. Just time for him to hug and sit with someone who loved him in peace.”
“He was hurting, and I felt like he just needed someone to love him.”
First responders arrived moments later. After de-escalating the situation and moving the young man to a nearby parking lot, Joe stayed with this hurting soul for a bit longer.
While Tuia’ana never learned what propelled this young man to nearly ending his life, Joe remains hopeful that he will see him again at some point. Moreover, the encounter left this dad with a greater appreciation of the importance of demonstrating compassion.
“This was an amazing, horrible, beautiful experience for my life,” Joe said. “I now view people with a greater love and with open arms. My heart needed an upgrade, and this young man gave it to me.”
As this story demonstrates, tenderness and devotion should be as much a part of our existence as breathing. While florists, candy, and card-makers may view Valentine’s Day as an annual opportunity to amass profits, the rest of us should never limit our affections to one day a year. There are 364 other opportunities to do so, 24-hours a day, with no need for calendar prompting.
God demonstrates His unfailing love to us in the beauty of His creation, the air that fills our lungs, and the sending of a Savior who also stretched out His arms of compassion – on an old rugged cross.
“I love you, bro,’ arms open and no questions asked.” Those are more than words expressed by a stranger to a starving soul, hungry for affection, standing on a bridge. They embody the single most perfect message of unconditional love that has ever been demonstrated on earth.
Nothing can match the unequivocal, unrelenting, unfailing love of God. Even better, no holiday is required.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)
Is there such a thing as “perfect love”? As Christians, we know that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) There can be no more perfect, unconditional love than that summarized in this one Gospel verse.
But what about earthly love? Is there such a thing as “perfect love” amongst humans?
History tells countless stories of sacrificial love. The Bible reminds us that “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) Indeed, heroic acts of bravery in defense of others are the stuff that legends are made of.
One such act of valor involves four men of faith who are remembered for the heroism they performed collectively during World War II. The “Four Chaplains,” as the quartet came to be known, were comprised of Lt. George L. Fox, Methodist Minister; Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Jewish Rabbi; Lt. John P. Washington, Roman Catholic Priest; and Lt. Clark V. Poling, Dutch Reformed Reverand.
The group met at Harvard University’s Army Chaplain’s School, but fate brought them back together again in February 1943. In the midst of the ongoing war, these four chaplains accompanied 902 soldiers aboard the Dorchester. This former luxury liner was transporting troops across the Atlantic between Newfoundland to Greenland.
On the evening of February 3, the ship’s captain ordered the soldiers to sleep fully clothed, each wearing a protective life preserver. The icy waters were perilous and German U-boats were known to frequent these waters.
Many of the men dirregarded the captain’s order due to the heat inside the ship’s bow and the discomfort such accommodations would provide. This simple act of insubordination caused many to perish as a result.
At 12:55 am, a German U-223 spotted the Dorchester and fired three torpedoes at the vessel – one of which stuck the ship broadside. In just 20 minutes, the ship would sink to its doom below the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean – just 150 miles from its final destination.
During that 20-minute interval, the four clergymen comforted the injured, aided sailors in distributing life jackets, and helped panicked seaman move to lifeboats. “Witnesses of that terrible night remember hearing the four men offer prayers for the dying and encouragement for those who would live,” explained Wyatt R. Fox, son of Reverend Fox.
Private William B. Bednar provided first-hand testimony to the calming presence offered by the ministers. “I could hear men crying, pleading, praying,” Bednar explained. “I could also hear the chaplains preaching courage. Their voices were the only thing that kept me going.”
After all stowed lifejackets had been distributed, witnesses recount seeing the chaplains surrender their own to fleeing passengers. “It was the finest thing I have seen or hope to see this side of heaven,” said survivor John Ladd.
As the ship sank to its icy grave, witnesses describe seeing the chaplains, linked arm-in-arm, verbally offering prayers for both the perishing and survivors alike. While the Dorchester was unable to send a distress call due to her disabled power systems, two of her escort ships were fortunate to rescue 230 survivors from the frigid waters. In all, 672 service members, including the chaplains, perished on that fateful evening.
Ambrose Redmoon once said that “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.”
Of more importance is the demonstration of love – perfect love. While we may never be called upon to lay down our lives for others selflessly, each one of us has the opportunity to show love every single day. After all, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. (1 John 4:18)
God’s love never fails. May our love for others always do the same.
Now, if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory. ((Romans 8:17)
A heartwarming story circulated across the internet last week and served as a reminder of the importance of family.
In December 2018, then 11-year-old Carter Wyles received the best Christmas gift anyone could ever obtain. Carter had been living with his aunt, uncle, and cousins due to a difficult situation in his biological home. While surrounded by his loved ones, the pre-teen was handed one final gift box to open. Inside the package, Carter found a photo of his extended family along with a note that would change his life forever.
“This is our most recent picture of our family,” Carter read out loud. “All of us would love for you to be in the next picture and to be part of our family… would you like to be a Kiphart and be our son and brother?”
Carter Wyles receives a hug from his aunt, Leah Kiphart.
As his new family looked on, Carter nodded his head and choked back tears as his former aunt and soon-to-be adopted mother hugged him. “I want to thank you so much,” Carter cried.
While watching this video, I was struck by how blessed we should all feel when we are adopted into the family of God. No matter what we’ve ever done or who our earthly family is, when we accept Jesus into our hearts, we become part of the family of God – with full rights to call our Creator, Abba Father.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Galatians 4:6-7, “Because you are His sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
Imagine all the implications of being a child of God. The Author of all Creation promised us that He will always take care of us. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)
God will assist us during difficult times. “For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not, I am the one who helps you.'” ( Isaiah 41:13)
Our heavenly Father will stay with us, holding us when we are afraid. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
God will protect us, as only He can do. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isaiah 43:2)
To be accepted into God’s family, all we have to do is believe that Jesus is God’s Son and accept Him as our Savior. “Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12)
We are given a divine inheritance in return for our acceptance, just waiting for us in heaven. “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.” (Revelation 21:7)
When was the last time you truly celebrated your adoption into the family of God? Rejoice in your salvation! Celebrate the inheritance that is already yours and share the joy of your salvation with everyone you meet.
You are a part of the family of God. Never forget that. No more extraordinary gift could ever be received.
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)
I’m a reasonably patient person, but six months of delays followed by a poor outcome won’t win me any awards for enhanced endurance. Rather, I must admit to recently reaching the end of my tolerance level.
I’ve been waiting for six months for a contractor to begin working on a screen porch project at my home. I first contacted him in July and was anxious for the work to start in August. No such luck.
His first excuse was that the materials would take eight weeks to arrive. Whenever I asked if he’d ordered them, he’d tell me he was out of the office and would do so “soon.” The project was projected to commence in September and then bumped to October. In October, I asked if I’d have the porch by Thanksgiving. It was promised that I would.
A week before the holiday, with no word on a start date, I told my contractor I had the feeling he didn’t want to do my work. He admitted to putting me off because he wasn’t happy with our agreed-upon pricing. I agreed to a significant price increase hoping that the building would finally ensue. A month later – just ten days before Christmas, it did.
A week into the build, I held significant reservations about the project’s quality—a rush to complete things before the holidays left me feeling worse. The roofer walked off the job mid-day, and my contractor’s helper moved into the truck in the afternoon – not wanting to work in the cold weather. We agreed to pause while I was traveling.
When I returned from the holidays, I expected work to continue. Instead, my project manager told me that he had been in the hospital for a few days. A week later, he called to say he quit.
Frustrated and anxious over my half-built porch and not knowing how to proceed, I didn’t sleep well that night. My mind has a way of embedding itself into problems until I’ve reached a solution.
“Let anyone who lacks wisdom ask of God.” That Bible verse repeated itself in my mind as I lay awake for hours in the middle of the night. It became my prayer – my mantra.
I need your wisdom, God. Show me what to do, I cried out. Let anyone who lacks wisdom ask of God. I’m asking You. Please show me Your wisdom.
After rising the following day, I called the contractor who had built my former screen porch and asked him to look at the creation. To say he was shocked at the project’s quality is putting it mildly.
“This is the worst work I’ve ever seen in my life,” he told me.
“I don’t know if that makes me feel better or worse,” I replied. “I’m happy to be validated but frustrated to hear that things are so bad.”
By the end of our discussion, he advised me to rip everything down and start over. I agreed to have him do so.
I also reached out to the franchise owner to request a refund for his subcontractor’s faulty work. A day later, he returned a third of my money with no apology. I’ve been fighting for the remainder of my payment ever since.
While I know God gave me the wisdom to find another contractor, this entire project has been quite an ordeal. Rather than celebrating my home’s new addition, I’ve been frustrated and frazzled every step of the way.
But perhaps, I need to look at this differently.
Stripped to the bare bones, my porch project begins anew.
My subcontractor’s decision to quit allowed me the opportunity to assess his work and secure corrections before everything was completed. In a way, this setback afforded me a better product in the long run. God intervened before things got worse.
This isn’t the first time my patience and trust have been taken advantage of, and it likely won’t be the last. Nevertheless, I can’t let the actions of others change who I am.
I’m reminded of an Irish prayer that summarizes this sentiment.
Count Your Blessings
Count your blessings instead of your crosses.
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes.
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your laughs instead of your tears.
Count your kind deeds instead of our mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth.
Count on God instead of yourself.
– Author Unknown
And so I shall. God has blessed me more than I deserve, so I will concentrate on all the good things in my life and let go of the bad. While I can’t always count on things to turn out the way I want them to, I know my heavenly Father will never let me down. God’s wisdom far exceeds my own.
I’m still learning to let go of the stressors in my life, but I will trust God to bring the resolution that He desires. His outcome, His governance is all that matters. I will, therefore, rest in the arms of Jesus, come what may.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
Over the Christmas holidays, I was privileged to spend time with my family in Colorado. After changing trains to travel from the airport to my mom’s house, I noticed a gentleman outside my window. Stepping down onto the tracks, he sifted through the gravel and pulled out a few discarded cigarette butts to place into his pocket. He must be desperateto do such a thing, I thought.
As our train began its journey, the track curved to the right, affording me a view of a bridge on the left that traversed the path. Nestled beneath the bridge’s bowels sat at least six tents that housed a small homeless community. I wondered if the man I saw was living amongst that population. Every year that I’ve made this journey, I’ve noticed more and more tents popping up near the rails. It saddens me to see people subsisting this way.
Several stops later, the train conductor came out of his booth and lowered the ramp to allow two passengers to board. The first was pushing a low cart with boxes of assorted goods. He must be a vendor, I thought. The second passenger pushed a bike inside the railcar and took his seat in front of me.
“That’s a pretty mask,” the first gentleman said to me, catching my attention.
“Thank you,” I responded. “If I have to wear one…”
Before I could finish my statement, the reality of what this man was pushing hit me and I was rendered speechless. Empty boxes and used water bottles sat amidst open cans situated beneath a purple canvas bag. The cans, more than anything, caught my attention for the curious way they stood empty. The lids had been punctured and peeled back in four jagged sections as if someone had cut them with a strange pocket knife rather than a traditional can opener. Why does this man have all these empty items on his cart? I wondered. Could he, too, be homeless?
As we continued our journey, God placed a desire on my heart to help these two men. Unzipping my backpack, I reached inside and removed several bills.
When the train’s intercom system announced that the next stop would be mine, I looked over to the man with the cart and told him I needed to exit. Looking into the man’s eyes, I extended a folded bill to him while asking, “May I give you this?”
The man’s eyes lit up as he saw my small offering. “Thank you. Yes,” he responded as he reached over to accept the gift.
“God loves you,” I explained. “I hope you know that.”
“I do,” came the reply.
“I’m sorry for whatever you’re going through,” I said. “Never give up hope.”
“I believe that,” he replied. “We have to trust and never doubt in God.”
“I agree,” I said. “I’ve been through some tough times myself – not always knowing where I’d sleep at night. But God brought me through my challenges, and He will help you, too. Keep praying. God hears you, and He knows. Merry Christmas!”
Leaning over to give the man pushing the bike some money, as well, I told him, “Merry Christmas! This is for you, too.”
His eyes lit up as he accepted the small gift. “Thank you! It’s my Daddy’s birthday!” he said.
Presuming he meant Jesus’s birthday, I responded, “You’re right! It sure is!”
Rising to push my suitcases to the door, I looked both men in the eyes and told them I’d be praying for them. As they thanked me again, I assured them that I was blessed to have met them. They laughed and said the same to me in return.
My mother, brother, and I walked through their neighborhood two nights later, enjoying the Christmas lights. I had already shared the story of my train encounter with them but couldn’t stop thinking about the homeless men I met on my journey. “I want to do more,” I explained.
My 14-year-old nephew was visiting the next day, and I knew it was important to involve him in my outreach. “I thought we could get tote bags and stuff them with hats, scarves, gloves, and small food items to take back to the encampment I saw by the tracks.” Much to my delight, my family agreed.
“Years ago, right before we moved to Georgia, we didn’t have money for Christmas gifts,” I recalled. “I made huge batches of cookies and took them to the hospital to give to the patients. That was when Matthew West and Amy Grant came out with their song, ‘Give This Christmas Away.’ It’s been my favorite Christmas song ever since. That was such an amazing Christmas. I want to do the same thing this year. I want to give this Christmas away.”
Stopping at a bench along our path, we sat down to watch a YouTube video of the Matthew West song together. It was cold, but a warm joy filled my heart. “That’s what we’re going to do!” I exclaimed. “I’m so excited!”
When my nephew arrived the next day, I told him we were going on a great adventure and needed his help. After repeating the story of my train encounter, I explained my idea to create “Bags of Hope” to give away to the homeless in his community. I shared the video with him and explained that he would get a big blessing from sharing Christmas hope with those less fortunate than we are. He, too, agreed.
Hours later, we had purchased items to create ten drawstring backpacks filled with the following items:
One 24-ounce bag of pretzels with a clothespin to keep it fresh after opening
A toothbrush and toothpaste travel pack
Two mini Rice Krispy treats
One pocket-sized pack of tissues
One 16-ounce bottle of flavored water
One pack of four cheese peanut butter crackers
One blueberry protein bar
One 2-ounce pack of applesauce
Five antibacterial wipes in a reusable bag
One 3-ounce pouch of flavored tuna fish
One knit beanie hat
One fleece scarf
One pair of fleece-lined gloves
One pair of heavyweight socks
In addition to the above, we included Christmas cards with handwritten messages reminding each recipient of his or her importance along with the assurance of God’s love. Below the message, we wrote John 3:16 – God’s personal offering of hope. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”
We sang as we packed in an assembly line, naming each item to the tune of the “12 Days of Christmas.” We placed the pretzels, clothing, and bottled water in the bottom of each backpack and topped it with a gallon ziplock bag containing the food items – along with the Christmas card. As I sealed each bag of hope, I prayed out loud that God would bless the recipients – that they’d find God who would keep them safe and well.
And so we set out for distribution. We had decided, together, that we didn’t need to go to the encampment I’d seen from the train. We would give our gifts to any homeless persons we spotted along the road.
The first individual we encountered was sitting on steps below a school. My nephew and I jumped out of the car and walked up to the building with the bag. As we approached, the woman seated there seemed nervous and started gathering her things, preparing to leave.
“Merry Christmas,” I announced as I waved my hand to her. Realizing we weren’t a threat, she sat back down.
“Merry Christmas,” she responded.
“We wanted to give you a Bag of Hope,” I explained. “May we do so?”
“Okay,” came the reply.
As I approached, I realized that the woman had a large scabbed wound on her forehead, and one of her wrists had been loosely wrapped with an Ace bandage.
“We want you to know that you’re important, and God loves you,” I explained as I presented the backpack to the woman.
“Thank you,” she responded. “Is this your son?”
“He’s my nephew,” I explained.
“Stay in school,” the woman told him. She appeared on the verge of tears as she spoke to us. “Just stay in school. It’s important.”
“I will,” said my nephew.
“May I give you a hug?” I asked the woman who had stood up to greet us.
“Yes. I’d like that,” she said.
Embracing the woman, I hugged her long and hard. ”We’re praying for you,” I told her. “I’m sorry for whatever you’re going through. We’ll keep praying for you.”
As we walked away, I gave my nephew a one-armed hug. “God will bless you for your kindness,” I told him. “Don’t you feel the joy already?”
“Yes,” he responded, “but it makes me sad, too.”
“I know,” I explained, “but your simple act of love may make a huge difference to the person that you’re helping. Never forget that.”
As we returned to the car with my mother and brother, I detailed our encounter along with my regret that I hadn’t remembered to ask the woman’s name. “I will next time.”
Not far up the road, we spotted two small tents near the parking lot of a convalescent home. This time, my brother came along. We learned that one of the campers was named Ron. The other tent sat empty. “We wanted to remind you that God loves you and that you’re important, “ I explained.
“I don’t feel important,” Ron said. “I don’t have COVID. I have cancer.”
“I’m so sorry. I wish we could do more,” I said as I placed the backpack next to Ron’s tent. He was on his hands and knees, halfway out of his tent, but didn’t appear to want to come further.
“We’re praying for you,” my brother said as we waved goodbye.
Continuing on our journey, we belatedly noticed a tent surrounded by grocery carts near the interstate, next to a McDonald’s. We were committed to the highway at that point, so we continued, scouring the roadside for further evidence of tents. Spotting more beneath a bridge, we exited the road and made our way back to where we had seen the encampment.
After parking, my brother, nephew, and I loaded our arms with backpacks and began trekking to the bridge. As we descended the hill to the camp, two men spotted us, broke out in smiles, and walked towards us. The first came directly to me with his hand outstretched in greeting.
“I’m Brian,” he said.
Brian’s smile was infectious, and I heartily returned his greeting. “I’m Sara,” I responded. “We wanted to bring you a bag of hope to remind you that God loves you and that you’re important.”
“You give me hope just by coming here today,” Brian said. “I pray every day that God will show me HIs will. Thank you for this. It means a lot just to have you come here.”
“It makes me so happy to hear you say that,” I responded. “God hears you, and He will guide you if you ask Him to.”
“I’m so sorry for whatever you’re going through,” I explained. “God brought me out of two abusive marriages. I know what it’s like to not know where you’ll sleep at night.”
“I’m new to this type of thing,” Brian replied. “I was sitting by the rails when a young girl came and asked me if I’d like to warm up by their fire. I’m in between things right now, but I’m praying that God will show me what to do next.”
“He will, Brian,” I affirmed. “God brought me through my situation, and He will do the same for you. Keep praying and asking God to guide you. I know He will.”
Turning, I introduced Brian to my brother and nephew, who had been talking to the other camp dweller who had come out to meet us. Brian extended his hand to my nephew, asked his grade, then told him to enjoy every minute of his education. “Stay in school,” Brian said. “This is a great time in your life. Soak it up.”
As we departed, I waved again and reminded our new friends that we’d be praying for them.
After returning to our car, we drove back to the tent by the McDonald’s and gave away three more stuffed backpacks – relaying the same message, asking the names of those we encountered, and telling everyone we’d pray for them.
At the end of the day, we’d given away eight of our ten bags, with a promise to continue this practice and keep praying for the individuals we’d met. “Never forget how blessed you are,” I told my nephew. “And never doubt how much a simple act of love can change someone’s life forever.”
As the subsequent days grew colder, we bought more grocery items and returned to the bridge encampment to give them away. I hoped to see Brian again, to let him and the others know that I’d been praying for them every night since I met them. “It’s one thing to know about something,” I told my mother. “It’s another to experience it first-hand.”
This activity has changed me. While I didn’t see Brian again, he remains in my heart and prayers – as do the others. We’re all just a breath away from the same existence and can never forget the less fortunate in our communities. I don’t know what 2022 will bring to my life, but I’m more determined than ever to make a difference in the lives of everyone I encounter. With God’s help, we can all do the same.
Hope isn’t a noun. It’s a verb. Merriam-Webster defines hope as “want[ing] something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true.”
God’s love is real. We don’t hope that message is true. We know it is because Christ died for our sins to demonstrate His love for us. We hold that truth in our hands as a gift to give others. We can’t keep it to ourselves. Our Heavenly Father sacrificed His Son to provide eternal salvation to everyone that wishes to receive His gift.
Spread God’s love around and give it away to everyone you know. However you package it, there is no better offering than the gift of our Creator’s love and hope.
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. (1 Peter 3: 13-15)
The morning after I submitted my workplace religious exemption against the COVID vaccine, I woke with the Jeremy Camp song “It’s out of my hands” on replay in my head. God always puts music in my mind with words that resonate with promises from above. I wrote about that in a previous blog, and I’ve always believed it.
I knew I had done my part in standing for my faith, but I still had to prepare myself for the genuine possibility that my employer would turn down my request. I had plenty of time over the Thanksgiving weekend to consider what I should do if my exemption were denied. Was I prepared to lose my job over a jab – or two or three – into my arm? Was this a foolish battle I was waging at the expense of my financial security?
These questions and more plagued my mind. What would I do if I lost my job? Does anyone ever win when taking a stand against the government? Was I prepared to take my battle to the courts if I was turned down? How much would such a legal action cost me, and how long would it take to bring such a lawsuit into the courtroom?
After submitting my exemption, I came across a recorded Zoom meeting with labor attorneys telling employers that only workers whose churches deny vaccination had lawful excuses for refusing the federal mandate. This exchange only deepened my insecurities.
In my letter, I had argued that “refusing immunizations does not have to be a tenet or directive of a particular religion that I may follow.” Still, I am not a legal expert by any means. Was my petition outside a church ideology enough to win an exception? These lawyers didn’t seem to think so.
“Most of the mainstream religions that we know of aren’t opposed to this vaccine,” one of the attorneys said. “You’re really having to find someone who is almost more of a fringe belief system or fringe religion because mainstream religion, you know Catholicism for instance…the Pope even ended up coming out and saying ‘Look. Get vaccinated.” (17:04) One of the lawyers even laughed at this point.
Is my faith a laughing matter? Not to me. Would I be mocked for my beliefs? Perhaps. How could I ever win against such a mindset? I might not. I had previously felt good about the stand I had taken for my faith. Was I being foolish? I didn’t think so.
The following day, my daily Bible reading began in Daniel 3. In this passage, the Jewish captives – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – opposed King Nebuchadnezzar’s ruling that everyone must bow down and worship the monarch’s created image. Those who opposed the royal edict would be burned alive in a fiery furnace. Although these brave men knew their lives were at stake, they refused to submit to Nebuchadnezzar’s imposed idolatry.
When called to explain their stance, these young men responded by proclaiming their faith in opposition to the government-enforced proclamation. Despite the threat, these men were willing to defy the same – no matter the consequences.
“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and He will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if He does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (V. 16-18)
What happened next changed the lives of not only those who witnessed the miracle but continue to offer encouragement for everyone’s who’s ever read the story. After refusing to bow to the statue, Nebuchadnezzar ordered his furnace to be heated sevenfold, to a temperature so hot that the soldiers tasked with throwing Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego into the flames died while doing so.
Although these three men were prepared to die for their faith, God saw fit to save them.
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, Your Majesty.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.'” (V. 24-25)
Not only was the king astounded by what he saw in the furnace, but he also testified to the salvation enacted by God.
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.'” (V. 28)
This story became a powerful reminder to me. Not only did God provide a miracle for these brave young men, but He also used their faith to humble a king. My stance for my beliefs might not change the heart of a ruler, but it may influence others who read my words and encourage them to stand unafraid for what they believe.
Six days after submitting my religious exemption request, my employer’s compliance office agreed to my exception. While I was jubilant at this outcome, I felt humbled by God’s grace and couldn’t help but praise my heavenly Father for this victory. After calling my mother and brother to share the good news, I texted all my friends, announcing the same. “To God be the glory!” I wrote. “Great things He has done!”
While I wasn’t faced with a fiery furnace for opposing a government mandate, I felt just as grateful for surviving what could have been the loss of my employment, security, and financial future. Standing up for my faith has strengthened my resolve, empowered my testimony, and encouraged me never to doubt God’s promise to always be with us.
“The Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised.” (Joshua 23:10) That’s not just an obscure verse from a forgotten period of history. That promise is just as true today as it was when Joshua proclaimed it centuries ago. My victory belongs to God, and I will never stop proclaiming it.
The Lord your God fights for you, just as He promised. (Joshua 23:10)
At some point in our lives, we all have to face giants. Doubt, fear, poverty, oppression – we can’t be sure when our confrontations will come, but come they will. We need to prepare ourselves for the inevitable battles.
Right now, across our nation, tyrannical forces are issuing directives that tell us where we can go, what we can do, who we can see, where we can worship, and even if we can keep our jobs. Now, more than ever before, we need to be prepared to give an account of our faith and stand up for what we believe in – no matter the cost.
Earlier in the year, as more and more workplaces were pushing their staff to become vaccinated against COVID-19, I gave thanks to God for providing me with a job where I could work from home. Surely, such measures would never affect me. How very wrong I was.
When the federal vaccination mandate was announced, I was stunned. This was a line in the sand that I couldn’t cross. I knew I might have to take a stand for my faith in the workplace but prayed it wouldn’t come to that. It did.
A little over a month ago, my employer announced that all U.S.-based employees – even those working from our homes, like me – would be required to become fully vaccinated by a specific date or lose our jobs. I knew I couldn’t do so in good conscience but wasn’t sure how to put my petition into words.
And so I prayed, researched, prayed again, and asked all my Christian friends and family members to pray for me, as well.
With a religious exemption request deadline looming, I began writing my letter, praying that God would give me the right words to say to express my beliefs. And so He did.
What began as a directive that invoked fear and trepidation ultimately became a testament that strengthened my faith. While writing my letter, I was filled with joy in surrendering the outcome to my Heavenly Father. I knew God would see me through this challenge, no matter how the battle ended.
Even more than that, I knew that this letter afforded me an opportunity to express my faith to individuals that may never have heard such things before – especially in the workplace. Across the country, countless others are articulating their faith in a similar fashion – precisely because of this mandate.
Perhaps this is the good that God is bringing out of this time of oppression. As in the life of Joseph, I believe that what “[the devil] intended to harm me…God intended…for good to accomplish what is now being done…”
It doesn’t matter if those who read this letter believe everything I do. As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 14:5, “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” These are my beliefs, and I stand by them.
Our country was founded under the guise of religious liberty. With each passing day, we lose more and more of our established freedoms. Students can no longer mention God in graduation ceremonieswithout being censored. Teachers can’t talk about Creationism alongside Evolution without being fired. Bakers can be sued, fined, and forced out of business if their faith can’t endorse the fabrication of products to support same-sex unions. Pastors can even be jailed for holding in-person church services amidst COVID restrictions. Perhaps now more than ever, we must stand up for religious freedom before losing it forever.
And so, when I decided to oppose this government mandate, I knew I was facing a David versus Goliath-type battle. As in that ancient story of old, the odds were stacked against me just as they were the shepherd boy who proclaimed God as the victor before he slung his first stone.
My slingshot is my quill. I was fighting for what I believed in. Make no mistake, forcing someone to be vaccinated against their convictions is very much an affront to religious liberty. I knew I might lose my employment by taking a stand, but I couldn’t go against my conscience for fear of retribution or dismissal.
After much prayer, I submitted my letter to my employer. I now publish the same for those who may also wish or need to do so. I know these words are controversial, but they speak to my faith without question, and I’m not ashamed to reveal them. Without further ado, this is my petition:
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing today to formally request an exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate on the basis of my sincerely held religious beliefs, as protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (SEC. 2000e-2, Section 703) (1), the Ohio Revised Code, Title 41 Labor and Industry, Chapter 4112 Civil Rights Commission (Section 4112.02) (2), and the Georgia Fair Employment Practices Act (O.C.G.A 45-19-29 [2010]) (3).
Attached Appendix:
I have included the appropriate information from Federal, Ohio, and Georgia law in an attached appendix regarding protection from religious discrimination in the workplace.
Please gather to hear my petition.
Personal History and Beliefs:
Universally, Federal, Ohio, and Georgia laws allow me to practice my faith and refuse immunizations based upon sincere and genuinely held personal religious beliefs. In fact, laws within all U.S. borders demonstrate great respect and deference for a myriad of religions. As such, they allow individuals to abide by the unique Word of God as it concerns this issue. My connection to my Creator is direct, and I do not have to be a member of any organized religion or any religion at all. I also understand that refusing immunizations does not have to be a tenet or directive of a particular religion that I may follow.
Nevertheless, my Christian faith forms the very basis of my existence. I do nothing without prayerful consideration, including accepting my current role with [this organization]. My choice as to whether I should take a vaccine is no exception to this rule. For reasons of my profound and sacred faith, I feel strongly led to continue to place my mind, body, and soul under the protection of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – not in any manufactured vaccine.
I have always been blessed to be an inordinately healthy person throughout my life – thanks in no small part to my faith, holistic lifestyle, and prayerful existence. I am careful as to what I allow to enter my body and only seek medical attention for profound medical issues and annual wellness exams. My doctor recently told me that she wished all her patients were as healthy as I am and that “whatever [I] am doing, [I] need to continue.”
What I am doing, in part, is praying each day for continued good health for myself and my family. I worship my Creator with my body, which the Holy Bible tells me is not mine but God’s.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)
“Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells within you?” (1 Corinthians 3: 16-17)
“For you were bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)
I know that God is the Holy and Great Physician who watches over my family and me each and every day. My mother feels the same. She takes no medication, has no intention of violating her body with this vaccine, and is healthier than most individuals half her age. I have always followed in her footsteps.
My unique understanding of the language of God is that Jesus Christ, Himself, spoke of seeking the help of a physician only when one is sick, not when one is healthy.
“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'” (Luke 5: 31)
“On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'” (Mark 2:17)
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, andhealing every sickness and every disease among the people.” (Matthew 9: 35)
I have now and always have cared for my body to prevent any type of disease, including COVID, using approaches in line with my sincerely held religious beliefs and practices. These religiously consistent approaches have always worked for me. As demonstrated by my mother, there is no need for me to violate my religious and bodily autonomy to change what I’ve done and have been led by God to continue doing my entire life.
Additionally, as the testing and manufacturing process of COVID vaccines use aborted fetal cell lines in the research, development, manufacture, and distribution of their products, I stand wholeheartedly against introducing any such substance into my body. As an adamant believer in all pro-life issues, I adhere to the sacred belief that life begins at conception. I maintain that no one should violate such a tenet for the so-called well-being of others. Human life is holy unto God. We are created in His image to be used for His purpose – not our own. Anything other than this is an abomination to Him and nothing short of murder. I cannot be part of condoning murder for the sake of science.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
“All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made.” (John 1:3)
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” (Jeremiah 1:4)
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13)
“My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139: 15-16)
“Rescue those who were being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, ‘Behold, we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the heartperceive it? Does not He who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will He not repay the man according to his work?” (Proverbs 24: 11-12)
I have spent my entire life following my Lord and Savior, and I have developed an extremely close walk with Christ as a result. Everything I do, every word I say, and every practice I adhere to align with my faith. This is not a small statement. Every decision that I make, I strive to first bring before the throne of God’s grace and direction.
I hope you understand that I am not writing this letter lightly. When I first heard about the vaccine mandate, I was deeply fearful of the consequences to my beliefs. I spent days crying over what to do and subsequently reached out to all my brothers and sisters in faith to ask everyone I knew to pray for me. On hands and knees, I have prayed hard about my decision to abide by my faith and seek an exemption from this provision.
I know that God led me to [this organization] as I, and countless others, prayed for the position I am now fulfilling today. My work here has become a testimony to the power of prayer as a result. This petition, therefore, stands as a further testament to my faith and my belief in God’s provision. I, and everyone I know, will continue to pray for your ears to be open to my petition and for understanding to be yours as you read through this information.
As I close, I must respectfully ask you to remember that I was hired into a fully remote staff position – one which enables me to work from my home. Every interaction I have with my team members is done via electronic means. There is, therefore, no opportunity for my religious, medical, or health status to endanger or compromise anyone within our corporation – nor would I ever allow it to do so.
I know that I am incredibly blessed to work at [company name]. Not a day passes without my thanking my Lord and Savior for leading me here and the role I now carry. I exist to take care of, support, and encourage others in their positions. I assume that duty as sacred as much as I do my faith.
Please allow me to remain with [company name] – wholly using the gifts that God gave me to take care of others. I pray that you not only hear my words but that you digest and understand them to come from my heart. I am blessed to be here. Thank you for not only allowing me to continue to do so but to remain intact in my faith and true to my belief that God will sustain me – with or without a vaccine.
In conclusion, I’m not asking you to ascribe to or even understand my faith. However, under Federal, Ohio, and Georgia laws, I ask you to respect my sincerely held religious beliefs and honor them as legally permissible. On these grounds, I request that my exemption be approved.
“‘ For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Most appreciatively,
Sara
Appendix:
(1) Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII, SEC.2000e-2. [Section 703]
“It shall be unlawful employment practice for an employer –
a) To fail or refuse to hire or to discharge any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to his compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; or
b) To limit, segregate, or classify his employees or applicants for employment in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive any individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect his status as an employee, because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
(2) Ohio Revised Code, Title 41 Labor and Industry, Chapter 4112 Civil Rights Commission (Section 4112.02)
“It shall be an unlawful discriminatory practice:
a) For any employer because of the race, color, religion, sex, military status, national origin, disability, age, or ancestry of any person, to discharge without just cause, to refuse to hire, or otherwise to discriminate against that person with respect to hire, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, or any matter directly or indirectly related to employment.”
To fail or refuse to hire, to discharge or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to the individual’s compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because of such individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age;
To limit, segregate, or classify his employees in any way which would deprive or tend to deprive an individual of employment opportunities or otherwise adversely affect an individual’s status as an employee because of such individual’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age.”
[Graphic courtesy of cmda.org https://cmda.org/coronavirus/?fbclid=IwAR3FjJwgTr5]
After praying on my hands and knees, I surrendered everything to God and uploaded my letter to my Human Resources department. I trust my Heavenly Father to invoke another miracle in my life – if it is His will to do so. I don’t have the power to turn back the evil forces in this world, but He does. God is my Defender, and I know He fights for me.
In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning, I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. (Psalm 5:3)
In my last post, I wrote of how God helped me find my needle in the haystack – twice in the same day. Still, the story was far from over. So much has happened since then, and I need to capture the details.
After placing an offer on the home that I wanted to buy, my Realtor texted me to say that the homeowners accepted my bid. Their only condition was a longer interval to vacate the property. While this would seem a reasonable request, time was not on my side. My new job was scheduled to begin in less than a month – plus, I still had to sell my home and move. I needed approval from my new employer to again push out my start date.
I advised my Realtor that I needed time to clear a later move date with my employer. She couldn’t understand why and asked to call me to discuss everything.
“Sara, I hadn’t realized this until today, but another offer came in for the house at the same time that yours did. The homeowners had called for final and best offers, but I hadn’t seen that text,” she explained.
“I guess my offer must have been the best one,” I replied.
“It wasn’t,” she retorted. “I’m friends with the Realtor whose clients made the counterbid. We normally don’t discuss offers, but she asked if I’d heard anything from the owners regarding the bids. After I told her the homeowners agreed to your offer, she said she was surprised. Her buyers had offered the asking price plus X dollars in closing costs – the same bid you made. I don’t know how you won the bid!”
“I do,” I said confidently. “God is with me.”
“I need your approval to proceed with the later closing date as soon as possible. I don’t want to take any chances with this agreement,” my Realtor explained.
“Just give me another hour,” I said. “I’ll have an answer for you soon.”
After hanging up the phone, I called my mom and brother and asked for prayer. I had already reached out to the HR recruiter at my new firm but hadn’t heard back. An hour later, I directly emailed my new executives, hoping to hear their consent regarding this additional ask.
I had already put off my start date for a month and knew this was asking a lot – but I couldn’t proceed without consent for another delay. Before beginning the job, I had to move to my new home and hadn’t even listed my current home. There were many moving parts in this orchestration, and I needed a delayed start to take care of all the shifting details.
“Please pray for me, “ I asked my brother. “I know God is in control, but I need an answer quickly.”
And just like that, after ending the call, I checked my email. Miraculously, there was the response. The primary executive that I will work for had consented to the additional delay. I could proceed with my home purchase.
Glory to God, I yelled to the rafters. Thank you, Jesus!
My phone rang moments later. It was the HR recruiter confirming the same. She had spoken to my employer and wanted to make sure that I knew a week’s delay would be acceptable. I assured her that I’d seen the response and reconfirmed my appreciation for their understanding and kindness.
Moments later, I texted my Realtor, advising her to give the homeowners my approval on the delayed closing.
I was buying the home God had held for me for 49 days while I found a new job, bid on another home, contracted to buy it, and then retracted the offer when the house came back with extensive damage. God had saved this home for me, led me to it when I fully surrendered my dream to Him, and then gave it to me at improbable odds with competing forces.
God’s mercies never cease! And He answers prayers – sometimes in grander ways than we could ever imagine. May we never doubt His greatness, and may we never cease to praise Him for His provision.
