Singing a song over the headlines

On the Brink of disaster...
Crisis in Ukraine...
Russia tightens Grip on Putin...
Russian military issues ultimatum to Ukraine...
Russia surrounds Crimea...

These are the headlines that have been bouncing around all the major news sources yesterday and today.  Enough to give oneself a panic attack if you read too much!  Especially living in said nation.
 

So a week ago I was making light of touring through the former President's home and taking pictures sitting behind his desk (really hoping he doesn't come after me for that one by the way)....

5 days later all of Ukraine is holding its breath and praying that all hell does not break loose tomorrow in Crimea.  Things seem to be changing rapidly around here.

I think we all feared Russia's reaction to Ukraine's revolution and impeachment of Yanukovich a bit-- especially after the Olympics came to an end-- but I can honestly say I wasn't expecting what has transpired over the last few days.   I was a bit more optimistic then today's headlines have proved.

For the most part life continues on as normal as can be expected in Kiev-- a good 11 hour drive from the current Russian occupation of Crimea.   I even had lunch at a nearby mall with a friend today, and by the looks of the people in shops and sitting in cafes you'd never guess that the nation is 'on the brink of war'--- until you flip on the TV or check the internet and see all the threats and rhetoric flying around. 

It's more the mental games that can get to you...all the 'what if's'... 
Honestly, nothing was really bothering me much until today.

Today I spent an excessive amount of time online reading headlines (the same ones you are reading). Seeing the building international attention this has all gained started to raise my internal stress level.  And let's just face it-- Russia is intimidating!  When people throw around terms like World War III your mind can do some crazy things!

Seriously....many of my friends and family could hardly locate Ukraine on a map before the last month and now we are the HEADLINE story on BBC, FOX, NBC, CNN and every other major news network.  On some news sites Ukraine even makes up the top 3 stories!  It's crazy! One thing is clear -  people now know Ukraine is not Russia.

Friends keep writing and asking when I'm leaving or if I have an exit strategy.  At this point things in my opinion are stable enough in Kiev to remain where I am and continue on in the work we are doing.  My heart is here, my work and life are here, and in all honesty in this present moment it would be harder for me to leave then to stay- because this is where I want to be.  For now it makes sense to remain.

This is a critical time for this nation.  If you've read my last few posts you'll have read about the tremendous hope that I experienced walking the streets of Maidan over the past week.  People were filled with a somber joy and had eyes fixed on a new horizon they thought was attainable.  They believed that the lives lost had not been lost in vain.

I don't think that hope is gone. 
It's been intimidated with fear perhaps, its concerned, and it is feeling a little shaky- but I do believe that hope remains. 

In our chapel service today at our office I saw the same hope and determination that I saw on the faces of  Maidan last week.  That hope was conveyed through the prayers of my Ukrainian friends.

People are fasting and praying in a way they never have before, and the believers in this nation have been brought to their knees knowing that God is the only way out of this mess.

Today we asked for forgiveness for previously not being so concerned with Syria, with Thailand and with Venezuela and all that has transpired in those nations. It's amazing how things seem so distant, until they become personal.

It has become personal in Ukraine.

Throughout my unsettling, slightly stressful, mind wrestling day there is one song I keep humming in my head.  It's actually a song that keeps coming to my mind every time I've been in coroporate prayer for this nation in recent weeks.

I can't really recall the last time I've heard this song sung or even played, but somehow the lyrics seem to be seared into my heart.  I think God has put them there for a reason.  

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest upon His promise;
Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er,
Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus!
 O for grace to trust Him more.

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood.

Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life, and rest, and joy, and peace.

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

It's easy to focus on the headlines.  

It's easy to give in to stress and worry.

But it's a choice to trust in Jesus...and take him at his word.

Tonight I'm going to bed making that choice. 

Thank you for praying!