We have never doubted
that the children we serve in the village suffer from all forms of abuse, but
only recently have the people grown to trust us enough to start to share their
stories with us. It is a blessing to receive their trust, and know that they
are looking to us as a form of trusted help; however, hearing the stories has a
way of breaking your heart in a way that leaves you speechless and at times
makes you feel powerless.
Recently, we were made
aware of one such case where one of our students had endured nearly daily physical
abuse since their earliest memory. As this child literally laid across my desk
weeping and crying out “Why, God… Why… Are you punishing me?” I can’t deny that
I had similar thoughts. Why? God… Why does this precious child have to walk
this path in life? What did this child do to deserve this type of treatment?
And yes… I understand… we live in a fallen world into which sin has entered and
each individual has a free will. With our free will we can choose our actions
and sometimes those actions cause horrible things to happen to other innocent
people.
I placed my hand on
the student’s shoulder. I prayed silently and then out loud for our God of comfort
to comfort this child of God… for God to give this child strength… for God to
somehow manifest His tangible presence so that this child would feel tangible
comfort and peace. At the end of the prayer, the student lifted their head off
the desk, and I saw tiny puddles of tears on the surface of my desk. They
turned and looked at me and said… I forgive them. I forgive them for what they’ve
done. I stopped…. What?!! I still can’t wrap my head around it. How can you
forgive someone who has abused you almost daily for your entire life while you’re
still in the middle of the situation? Only Jesus. The student went to explain
that they had listened to the devotional teachings, and they knew that if they
wanted to receive forgiveness that they should forgive and that’s what they
were choosing to do. My own tears began falling on to the desk beside theirs.
That is why.
All though his/her family has
rejected him/her, I am using my people to show him/her that he/she is loved…
he/she is worthy of being loved, cared for, and is worth being a part of a
family. Even if it’s not his/her blood family… these people love him/her.
I stopped walking and
I looked at the student. I shared with the student what God had just told me
about the people… people completely unrelated to them showing him/her the love
of the Father. I encouraged the student and told them that despite lacking a
loving earthly family, they have a
spiritual family that loves them and a
Heavenly Father who will never leave them or forsake them in the midst of the
struggles. The student grabbed me and hugged me so tightly that I lost my breath. “Thank
you” they whispered.
I don’t see it as
coincidental that the morning of the apex of this event, I was lead to teach on
Isaiah 43:2 during the devotional time. I asked the students… and myself… How often do we ask, “Why? Why
am I going through this?”. How often do we ask God, “Where are you?!!” in the
midst of the fire or the flood. How often do we get frustrated in the trial and
the tribulation, and declare that God is not with us nor does He care for us?
“When you pass through the
waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not
sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.; the flames
will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43:2 NIV)”
See… God NEVER
promises us that our lives will be perfect. Read the verse above… it doesn’t
say IF… IT SAYS WHEN… WHEN we pass through the waters… WHEN you pass through
the rivers… WHEN you walk through the fire… I WILL BE WITH YOU. Even when we
don’t feel Him… even when we ask why… He’s still there. He will never leave us
or forsake us. Even though we don’t understand it all on this side of eternity,
we have a BIG GOD who walks beside us THROUGH IT ALL. Even when other people use their free will to do horrible things... He's still with us. And sometimes... if we look around... we can see how He is using His people, His angels, and His love to comfort us in the worst of it all. And for that I am
grateful.
Thank you for taking
the time to read my blog. The student is now in
a secure location while the case is being processed by the judicial system.
Blessings,
Meaghen