Recently I worked with my son on his school project on the holocaust. I am not going to lie, it was extremely frustrating because his generation is so far removed from this type of crime against humanity. They only hear stories when they actually want to listen.
I kept trying to explain points of compassion and the importance of being a great communicator. Through the entire process there was a lot of frustration that my son would experience due to his lack of understanding that people could be so horrible.
In the midst of the conversation I realized that there was this guy Haman in the bible that also wanted to kill the Jews. So we paused, watching and listening to the book of Esther. The sanctity of human life is constantly positioned between emotions and levels of feeling set apart and superior to others.
It went on for hours of conversations and expression of emotions and disappointments. By the end I think we both understood and accepted that humanity is flawed, even ourselves.
Then in that moment my son said – my thank God for hope. It brought this song to mind.
As I listened “You keep hope” alive by Jon Reddick to it God reminded me that I am healing with hope… God keeps hope alive. NO matter what we see happening on this earth we must trust that there is hope and a sovereign God who is saving us from ourselves.
Today my prayer is
Father God please continue to restore hope to the moments that seem hopeless. Ignite hope in the moments that we can struggle to keep our candle burning in our hearts toward you and your plans for us. God please help us when we struggle being of this world and not of the Kingdom you have set apart for. God please help us who have lost due to human frailty thinking that we are superior in any way shape or size. Please forgive us for our ignorance in your sight. God please help us love the way you love in the moments when we are struggling to love others please remind us how much you first loved us. God as this world continues to become filled with anger and hatred please remind us of your love and your grace. God we thank you for Jesus and his work on our behalf even in asking you to forgive us for we know not what we do. I thank you Jesus for the wisdom and insight to pray for us when we were not of sound mind and body to pray for ourselves. I thank you for your death, resurrection and ascension to be seated beside God in heavenly places. I pray for myself, my son and all those who reach in the mighty name of Jesus amen.
Krys Grant-Ray 