They were told it was safe. But on Saturday, September 8th 2018, the people who had just returned back to the city of Gudumbali, Nigeria were, once again, terrorized and forced out by Boko Haram.
Thankfully, no one died in the encounter, but the amount of fear and PTSD created/revisited for the innocent people of Northern Nigeria must be astronomical. While the village of Gudumbali was declared safe by the Nigerian government and military when it wasn’t as safe as reported, this recent clash has caused the people of Northern Nigeria to trust their blatantly lying government even less. Pushed out of their homes, they are now, once again, refugees.
I couldn’t possibly start to understand how angry, scared, and hopeless these people feel. In this dark, dark world, a home is a place of refuge and rest; and sadly, these people now have nothing to cling to in this world for those needs.
While I could never even start to understand their anger and heartache, Jesus can. He was a man “who had nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:58). He came from heaven, where He sat enthroned, to the dirty, messy, dark world we now live in.
And as I think about it, the truth of the matter is, for all who believe in and rely upon Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, our Home is not here, but is in heaven. While I will probably never experience the pain and neediness those in Northern Nigeria are facing, it is comforting to me– and I pray, to you, and to those in Northern Nigeria, too– that those who believe in Jesus have a home awaiting them.
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?”
(John 14:2, NIV)
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Truthfully, He is our home. And while we are on this planet, we await our being with Him: where every tear is wiped away, and the roads are made of gold.
A place where corruption and terror end, and all is made new.
As these people are suffering, let’s pray that they would be comforted and strengthened by Jesus– and that their situations would improve soon.
Do you know Jesus?
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
(John 14:6, NIV)
This can be a puzzling verse for some; but, in essence, Jesus is proclaiming that it is only through Him that we can be saved. Learn more about Jesus, how He saves, and why it should matter to you, here.
Please pray for…
- Those who have had to flee their village, once again.
- For an end to Boko Haram.
- For the rescuing and freedom of the 112 remaining Chibok girls, and the rescue of dear Leah Sharibu.
- For the Nigerian government to be honest about where they are at in the struggle against Boko Haram.
Thank you for your prayers!!
ISAIAH 62 PRAYER MINISTRY 