Passing Through the Rivers...

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.

In the process of working with this student, I had the honor of speaking to several members of the

 community who had shown this young student hope, love, and welcomed this student into their lives and homes without a second thought. People who had embodied the parable of the Good Samaritan and took the time to stop and attend to the needs of this young student. I sat beside this young student and heard people talking about how well-behaved, humble, graceful, kind, and lovely this young student is. As I watched the student’s reaction I saw that with each kind word, a small smile was spreading across their face. My heart began to fill with the love that was being declared over this student by people who had literally served as Good Samaritans in this student’s life in the time of dire need. As we walked away from one of the homes of one of the Good Samaritan’s I felt God whisper in my soul…

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