The Difference Hope Makes
Grace and Pete decided to visit Expo 2020 one last time during its final week. The grounds were packed with people. The lines to get into some of the more popular pavilions were extremely long so they decided to visit some of the smaller pavilions. Pete was on a mission to buy some more coffee beans. He had bought some from Rwanda on his last visit and they were excellent. Grace wanted to find t-shirts for her grandchildren and other gifts to take home. They entered a small gift shop and started chatting with the shopkeeper. They discovered that she was from Ukraine. The conversation shifted as they asked questions and showed their concern. Sofia had lived outside of her home country for several years. She said she was devastated when the news first broke, but she was learning how to cope. She did have news that her mother was safe. She was angry at the devastation and ruin of her country. She was angry that her city had been destroyed and she had no home to go back to. She had no hope. Pete asked if it would be OK to pray for Sofia and her family. She agreed and Grace prayed that God would bring peace to this war-torn area and would protect her family.
As Pete and Grace walked away from the store, Grace began to reflect on her other Ukrainian friend, Anastasia. Grace had been part of a ladies Bible study at her local church for several years. Each year the women were divided into different small groups. She loved the diversity of the groups. Women from many different nations were worshipping, studying, and encouraging each other. Messaging groups were started on social media for announcements and prayer support. Most groups disbanded after the course was finished, but one year her small group continued to write to each other. They would share Scripture and ask for prayer. They prayed for rocky marriages, infertility issues, children who were suffering with life-threatening illnesses, and for employment for those who had lost jobs during Covid. This group had stayed together virtually for almost five years, and Anastasia was part of that group.
A few days after the war began this message came in: Dear Sisters, I would be much appreciated if you could pray for the situation in Ukraine and our families there. The women rallied together and began to pray.
A few days later: Dear Sisters, please keep praying for peace in Ukraine! My mother is staying in the city under attack, we are looking for possibilities of her evacuation. Please pray! Again, Grace and the other women began beseeching God on behalf of Anastasia’s mother.
These updates continued for many days. Finally, the news came in that Anastasia’s mother had been able to get out of the war zone and into a safer area of Ukraine. Her other family members were also safe.
As Grace strolled through Expo, she thought about these two Ukrainian women. One was full of hope, surrounded and supported by a group of women (and other believers) who shared her belief in a powerful God who is in control and answers prayer. The other woman had no assurance that God was in control. She could only hope that everything would turn out OK.
Prayer Reques
Pray for comfort for Ukrainians who are living in the UAE who have lost homes and family members. Pray for wisdom as they navigate through this loss and what the future may hold.
Pray for Ukrainian and Russian Christ followers who are attending the same international churches. Pray for unity and love amidst a dire situation in their home countries.