A Life in Exile

With all that is going on in our world, from wars to natural disasters, missionaries are not immune to questioning God’s purposes. For this reason, I’m sharing one chapter of my new book, When Serving Gets Tough, and pray that it will be an encouragement to you today.

Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?” (Psalm 4:6a)

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“I was shocked. I’m here to serve refugees, and it’s hard! I don’t know the language of my host country, so when I use the language of the refugees I serve, the locals don’t like it. After a recent influx of new refugees, attacks against them ramped up, and I found just serving them to be unsafe. The locals don’t like the fact that outside aid and food distribution goes to the refugees when they are suffering too. People can be so cruel; I’ve been yelled at more than once just for helping refugees. The refugees are unhappy and living in horrible conditions, because no one wants to help anymore. A short-term crisis has turned into years.”

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“I walk by the shrines and temples in my city and instantly feel the oppression. People spend crazy amounts of money and time trying to appease their gods. Fear drives everything. That same fear keeps people from being open to the good news of Christ.”

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“I feel the darkness all around me. This country is so bleak; the people never smile. Hatred and revenge seem to be the only recourse people turn to in times of trouble. I’ve never seen so much evil in one place. I feel it affecting me, my marriage, and even my children.”

Help Me, Lord!

Don’t forget what Jesus told us.

Suffering is a given in this world. Even so, we can have courage, because he has overcome the world (John 16:33 NIV). Evil is everywhere. We see it most clearly in places which are not home turf to us, because everything is new to our eyes—whereas at home we’ve grown up with the contrasts and are complacent to the wrongs perpetrated for the sake of evil. The presence of evil appears more evident because in most cultures there is no Judeo-Christian foundation of laws and moral values to push back against it. People accept bad things as fate, while doing nothing to right the wrong.

Evil has been in the world since that first sad day back in the garden. Jesus makes no excuses for it: “You will have suffering in this world” (John 16:33 CSB). It’s a fact, a reality, an ever-present danger. Those without Christ feel its impact daily, but for those in Christ, including you, there is peace, breathing space, and room for hope. In fact, this is what we are here to share with others: our good news that, in Christ, evil does not have the upper hand. Evil has an expiration date!

When you see nothing good, remember.

Our verse for this devotion comes from Psalm 4, a psalm of David. It’s another reminder that God is open to our questions, our hurts, and our cries for help. When I read the word selah in the Psalms, I always think of a sigh. I think it works very well with the focus of this psalm. Read Psalm 4. Notice the middle portion of this psalm. There are two imperatives for us to follow: know and reflect, and in between—don’t sin in your anger.

What do we know? We know that the Lord has set us apart for himself. He has given us purpose and a call to fulfill. He’s listening and will answer as you call out to him, but just remember that you are doing it as his child, his chosen one, his ambassador.

We also are told to reflect. Take your anger at evil and think about it in a calm, restful way. When we’re agitated over evil, we do or think things that go against God’s Word and way. Don’t do that. God understands and allows us to be angry, but without sin. Maybe that’s why it’s important to be silent about it. Our mouths can get us in trouble!

Continue to offer yourself as the living sacrifice God has called you to be (Rom 12:1) and trust him to take care of evil. When people ask you, “Who can show us anything good?” let them see the light of Christ in your face and through your words and actions. Remember that in him we have joy despite the darkness, and rest and sleep in the midst of trials. In Christ we have safety.

Give as you have received.

As you reflect on what you’ve received from God through Christ, another psalm of David helps us when evil threatens to overwhelm. Read Psalm 12 and see the response that the Lord, through David, gives to the one who finds no one faithful or loyal to the Lord.

Are you comforted by these words? They are brutally honest, yet full of hope. Think about how blessed you are as a follower of Christ to have such words to read in times of struggle, then think about the people around you who don’t. This is the reason most don’t smile and feel left without recourse when sin abounds.

Start with these words of complaint when God opens a door with a person. Ask them if it feels like there are no faithful people in their lives or country or if loyalty is unknown. Most will say yes and join you in despair at the evil that seems rampant. Once you’re there, you have another open door—to share the good news that God will have his day, and evil does not win in the end. In the meantime, they can know peace and find value in life, while worthless things are exalted by others. All this is available in Christ.

Recognizing evil has its purposes.

The more evil raises its ugly head and Satan plays his cards openly in our world, the more opportunities we have to show the difference Christ makes in our lives. The trials Jesus spoke about will continue to increase as his return draws near, causing the love of many to grow cold (Matt 24:12–14).

As evil increases, we must guard our hearts against our love growing cold. Instead, recognize that in the midst of the darkness, our lights for Christ shine even brighter. This is our time to live in contrast to the lawless, hateful mindset—and as we do, to share about the one who enables us to stand firm.

For Further Meditation

Reflect on Jesus’s actions and words in the final days of his life on earth, knowing the evil intent of men was coming to a head and the cross was the goal. Think about how a perfect, innocent man faced such evil. Did he turn inward, pull away, or shirk his purpose? No, he pressed on, taught his disciples till the end, faced accusations without retort, and willingly submitted himself to the cross. The ultimate evil was committed against the spotless, perfect lamb that we might stand firm till he returns. Talk with colleagues or family about your struggles with the evil that surrounds you. Pray together for comfort and strength.

Grace and Peace

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