“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3
Did you know that the Bible talks to us about “peace” as many as 421 times? I’m sure it’s apparent to you that our world is anything but peaceful. It seems the louder we cry out for peace, the less true peace we have.
Many people debate what is preventing “peace,” and others demand guarantees of peace for themselves (even this phrase is an oxymoron). Governments participate in “peace talks” and people protest for peace. Everyone cites the need for kindness and tolerance. These things have value and a place in our society. But in my experience, many who believe they are striving for a more peaceful society, only want it on their own terms. They seek to achieve peace by demanding accommodation of their own perspective, even if it excludes the needs and perspectives of others. It is a rare person that truly seeks peace on God’s terms.
The book of Isaiah is particularly focused on the concept of God’s view of peace. In fact, Isaiah mentions “peace” more than any other book of the Bible. It is Isaiah who calls the coming Messiah the “Prince of Peace.” In multiple verses, God reminds us that peace comes through Him alone: It is established by God (Isaiah 26:12), comes as we live by His Words and put our trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 26:12, Isaiah 48:22, Isaiah 54:13 & Isaiah 57:2), and that final peace will be established by Jesus (Isaiah 9:6-7, Isaiah 53:5).
Lasting peace that fills hearts and flows like a river cannot be achieved by a demonstration, by a belligerent social media post, or by anyone’s demand for tolerance because the absence of peace is a result of sin deep in the heart of all mankind. The fix is not more loud debates or angry demands. The fix is Jesus.
The current conflict in Ukraine provides ample evidence of how devastating the world can become when entire countries are unwilling, or unable to seek the kind of peace that the Bible talks about.
We all know there is a war, but it’s a struggle to understand what this really means for Ukrainians. War is an ugly, dirty word that represents an appalling reality. But a word, even one as powerful as “war,” is just an abstract concept until you live that reality. Whatever images come to mind when you hear that word, they are a mere shadow of the upheaval and heartache facing millions of Ukrainians today.
Great tragedies, like war, affect everyone! Sadly, it is usually society’s vulnerable that suffer the most. Children experience trauma that deeply wounds their tender hearts. Seniors who are already marginalized find that nothing has prepared them for coping with the constant fear and loss that become a part of daily life in a war-torn country.
Many elderly people are unable to escape their living nightmare. Some have health issues that make travel impossible and most have insufficient resources. They cannot leave their homes much less their country. Those for whom escape is possible, leaving is heart-wrenching. Can you imagine abandoning the home where you spent 60 or 70 years of your life? I had a conversation with an elderly Ukrainian lady in Poland whose tears spoke of great loss. She didn’t know how to start over. I was brokenhearted for her and for all those in Ukraine who have no choice but to wait and pray for the end.
Bringing life-changing emotional support, humanitarian help, and spiritual care to the most vulnerable are a vital part of our ministry. It is impossible to overlook lonely seniors who are living in poverty and surviving the collateral damage caused by war. From community gardens to warming centers, from groceries to pastoral visits, we are impacting the lives of Ukrainian seniors continually.
God can use you to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the elderly and other vulnerable people. The hope we are bringing to the lost and broken is possible because of partners like you. Would you join us today as we take that step of faith to serve more struggling Ukrainians?
