We are forever surrounded by the effects of a fallen world. There is fighting, anger, tension, destruction, and ever growing signs of bleak darkness that fills our news reports. Suicide bombers who give their own lives believing they are fighting against evil while at the same time becoming the face of evil and terror to a desperate world. Battle lines are drawn with man against man—yet, the enemy is the darkness within our own hearts and souls that blind us to the only truth which matters. When tragedy strikes many cry out, “Where is God?” He is right where He has always been. He is on His throne today in the midst of our tragedy, the same as He was when they hung His Beloved Son on the cross to pay for our sins. Justice, righteousness demands that each of us should die for our own evil self exalting hearts. It is Grace that steadies God hand of Mercy each and every day that this world continues to rotate in it’s orbit. Patiently, God waits for one more sinner to come to repentance. He waits for one more child to come to Him. It is His love and Grace which calls me to testify of Him. With the events of this year and this week in mind, I wrote this poem—I hope it points you to Jesus and lights a candle of hope in your heart today.
WHEN TERROR STRIKES
By Effie Darlene Barba
When terror strikes from every side
Inciting fear in every heart
When all I see is torn apart
How can I Lord in You abide?
And rest in peace upon they word
With all the hate and sorrow heard
From wretched men, so filled with pride
I need a place in which to hide
I turn and lift my eyes toward You
To search the dark, to understand
How can this be as You have planned?
When all the world seems so askew
By evil hearts so filled with sin
It’s hard to see Your love will win
When selfish hearts themselves pursue
Destruction, death and pain ensue
As I gazed there shone forth a light
And reaching forth a steady hand
That held at bay hell’s death command
With sovereign power and such might
It is Grace alone that bids you wait
While justice bids man’s final fate
That one more broken heart contrite
With blinded eyes to then find sight
Oh, Lord, please help me understand
That the same love that bore the cross
Is Your love for us when we face loss
That Grace holds firm Your Mighty hand
That every kindness we have known
Is proof Your grace for us is shown
For Justice would itself demand
That darkness, death consume our land
So, help me Lord to be a light
To spread your word where e’er I go
Your love, your hope, your joy to show
Your gospel truth to then take flight
Transforming hearts that one by one
They seek and find your precious son
That then your Glory shine so bright
Beams of Grace in the dark of night
Let us close with this Psalm from David. “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? ….One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. ….I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27).
Photograph courtesy of Unsplash.com
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.