Lake Brienz, Switzerland
My heart has been heavy, aching at the injustices that occur all around me: the injustices that ripple as a consequence of people’s actions, the injustices that occur in the form of illness, aching hearts, and the injustice that the citizens of Gaza are currently experiencing. It’s hard for me to fathom what evil is embedded in the foundation of our culture of humanity. It’s hard for me to comprehend that people would intentionally harm their neighbor. It’s hard for me to recognize the brutal reality that this world is so unbelievably fallen, and we are not home yet.
As I rode over twenty-three miles alone around Lake Brienz, I had an abundance of time to spend in prayer. I was recently asked what my prayer life looks like. My prayer life is often reflective of what my relationship with God embodies: a child and a father. For twenty-three miles, I spent time talking to Jesus like I am His child. I talked to Him about the battles I am facing, my mind in its most vulnerable and rawest form, and I finished by praying for the injustices occurring around the world.
It was incredible, not having to worry that people would hear me because it was just me, alone with God in nature. However, my conversation moved me to tears just thinking about the strife His people are experiencing right now. I cannot begin to fathom the fear all the children, mothers, fathers, and elderly are facing in Gaza right now. My heart bleeds for their inability to rest because of the unsettling feeling of knowing they’re not safe.
Something that was beautiful that I was able to recognize in my time of prayer was my role in this war. My role is not to fix it. My role is not to find solutions. My role is only to weep alongside His people, celebrate alongside His people, and pray fervently for the justice, peace, and perseverance of His people. I believe prayer is my greatest weapon against the enemy. I have seen God move mountains in my life as a result of consistent prayer. I believe that nothing I can do will compare to what being a bold partner in prayer could do for my friends who are ill, my family who is suffering loss, the citizens of Israel and Palestine.
