Are you tired of being afraid, of trembling in fear when learning about difficult realities? Tired of diverting your thoughts when you begin pondering injustice? It can be easier to push off an unsettling inkling, telling ourselves we are paranoid in order to convince ourselves the darkness doesn’t exist or it is not quite as dark as it appears.
For example, when we read a story that is true yet unsettling, we might even try convincing ourselves it isn’t real in an attempt to divert our thoughts and comfort our nervous systems. But the truth is, there are terrible things happening in the dark. And just because we don’t want them to be true doesn’t mean they’re not. And, just because we are unsettled doesn’t mean we aren’t to know.
What if we are meant to be unsettled? Some things should break our hearts, whether it is happening as closely as in front of our face or more broadly in our communities. Because, we are called to know for the protection of our families, this next generation, the people we love and steward, and those around us. When we are gifted with knowledge and insight to steward, the question becomes, “What do I do with this, Lord?”
I want to share something I am learning in this season:
My life verse is Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.” Mostly, this beautiful verse reminds me I am an encourager. I have, and many others as well, have often viewed me as a bright, bouncy ball. Yet, the Lord is teaching me this: Light does not simply shine and radiate. Light also exposes. It exposes what has been hiding in the dark. And, when light exposes, it also heals.
Think about a cut on your arm. If you hide it under a dark, moist setting, it will fester. But if you expose it to the sunlight, it will heal.
To help experience true freedom ourselves and to help others find safety and freedom, we must stop and acknowledge unsettling reality, which means we must allow ourselves to be uncomfortable. We must give ourselves permission to be unsettled for a moment.
With Jesus as our Chief Cornerstone, we can do this in a way that leads to healing, not spiraling. We can face difficulty head-on to help the defenseless in practical ways to protect them or even help them on their healing journey. It means we have to be willing to be uncomfortable, even grieved, for a time to see true breakthrough happen and freedom take place.
A very difficult reality that is hard to accept but is true is the exploitation happening to our youth in our communities. I became friends with a powerful, Godly woman this year, who founded a non-profit, called Pursuit 3416. They provide training and education to youth and adults at schools, churches, and other places, to prevent exploitation and stop predators from reaching our youth here in St. Louis.
The name of this organization was inspired by Ezekiel 34:16, which says, “I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.”
If you too feel convicted to understand what is going in the dark in our communities to protect our youth, this is an organization with a Godly cornerstone that can help you as a parent, grandparent, leader and educator.
You can also learn what is happening globally through the powerful work of the Tebow Foundation. The work Tim, Demi, and their teams are doing is beyond what I could fathom. It is hard to even process. Yet the Lord is giving them power to see people set free from darkness.
While it is heartbreaking to learn about these realities, I feel convicted to know so I can be in prayer for them, their teams, and have Godly wisdom on how to educate and protect our youth. The work of these organizations is difficult and heartbreaking but it is beyond life changing.
Prayer
Father God, Help us! Help us parents and grandparents be awake to the realities happening around. Give us wisdom, discernment and passion to see the truth and to shine your light with courage and boldness to be like you, Jesus — both the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah! In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Sarah Guldalian 