“She’s a special child. My first daughter. She’s my adviser. She makes me happy all the time and comforts me when I’m down. She’s my everything,” said Esther Yakubu said of her daughter Dorcas Yakubu1. From dying of health issues, to being hurt and injured in car accidents, countless parents have passed away since their daughters were abducted by Boko Haram in April of 2014. Sadly, the pain these parents go through on a daily basis shows no real sign of relenting.
Just as I touched on the pain those children in Northern Nigeria are going through right now in this post, I felt I should take the time to shine the spotlight on the parents of those kidnapped, like the Chibok girls. While many parents of these girls have been reunited with their daughters, many more have not. Since the abduction four years ago, 18 parents of the Chibok girls have passed away2.
As the rest of these parents wait, day upon day, for signs of their daughters coming home, many have been hit with the news that many of these girls claim they do not want to come home, as seen in a recent video from Boko Haram3. This news has done nothing but tear down the Hope and Comfort that these parents have even further.
In their darkest of days, parents like those of Dorcas Yakubu are praying that God would intervene, and do what only He can do. As I wrote about in the post concerning the kids of Northern Nigeria, all we can do is pray, advocate, and act. This week, as Father’s Day comes upon us, would you pray over these girls– and the parents who are endlessly waiting for them?
“Dear Lord Jesus,
We come before You, lifting up the parents of the Chibok girls, and others– parents such as Rebecca Sharibu and Esther Yakubu. Father God, we pray that You would draw these parents to Hope in You for their daughters and sons.
As the Chibok girls have reportedly said that they do not want to be freed, we pray that it isn’t true; we pray that You would intervene on behalf of their lives, and would free them mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically, as only You can do. Please bring these parents to have Hope, Trust, and the tenacity to keep praying for their daughters and sons. Thank You, Lord Jesus.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.”
Esther, Dorcas’ mother, has not lost hope yet– and whenever she wants to remember her daughter, she sings Dorcas’ favorite song, according to CNN. “I used to hear her sing (it) always,” said Yakubu. “Anytime I want to recall her to my soul, I sing that song.”
May these parents continue to sing songs of Hope & Strength; may they rely on Jesus, and never give up. Please continue praying for these parents, especially the fathers of these young women. Thank you.
Do you know Jesus?
“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
(Isaiah 49:15, NIV)
Around 2,000 years ago, the one and only true God stepped on the scene of humanity. The God who genuinely cares for the people He created came to die for them, so that they might become His children through what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Learn more about Jesus, why He came to earth, and why it should matter to you, here.
1 https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/08/africa/nigeria-chibok-girls-mother-yakubu-intl/index.html
2 http://www.pulse.ng/bi/politics/18-parents-of-chibok-girls-have-died-in-last-4-years-id8142185.html
3 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5270483/Abducted-Chibok-girls-say-wont-return-Boko-Haram-video.html
ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY 