Confronting Evil
Illustration from “The history of the devil and the idea of evil; from the earliest times to the present day” by Paul Carus (1899), Source https://www.flickr.com/photos/internetarchivebookimages/14772943531, Author Internet Archive Book Images (No known copyright restrictions)
Confronting evil takes a toll. That is true whether we are social workers, law enforcement officers, lawyers, news reporters, writers, or simply human beings dealings with the challenges of life.
Interest = Distress
The issues that interest us, the issues that motivate and move us, are the ones likely to distress us most.
Intractable Problems
Poverty, abuse, corruption and the like are not easy on the constitution or, for that matter, the soul.
Such massive and intractable problems weigh on us nearly as heavily as they do on the individuals impacted directly. They grind us down the same way gravity and friction wear down our joints.
Add to the mix discouragement at the fact too few others share our concerns, and we are likely to become despondent.
Brief Respite
Cooking websites, travelogues, flower shows, and art museums may offer a brief respite. But little more.
Christian Perspective
For Christians, this situation has an eternal dimension.
We struggle against the culture in which we are immersed, a culture that tolerates – and in many cases has created – the very evils which distress us.
Weary and wounded, we battle on. But we know that the war has already been won for us. It was won at the cross by Christ.
“In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16: 33).
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A Lawyer's Prayers 
We will keep fighting with awareness and hope
that the war has already been won for us. It was won by Christ on the cross.
I wish you the best, my dear friend Anna, Marie
Beautifully expressed, Marie. I am so grateful for your friendship. With love, Anna ❤
Nothing like a good cooking website to play diversion— allowing one to regroup and gather back some fighting spirit!!!
As it happens, I am a terrible cook (LOL). But I enjoy reading recipes and watching cooking shows.
😂
and that is the only hope in the world, otherwise we are all on a scavenger hunt for life for what does not exist. “In HIm (Jesus) is life”
Agreed.
Avoiding burn-out and compassion fatigue in the face of so many needs in our immediate context and around the world remains a fine art. Especially for committed believers.
And agreed, Anna and Marie, we have to serve on the basis of the war already won by Christ on the Cross. Many thanks for tackling another real issue facing us.
Thank you for the encouragement, Erroll.
One of the worlds evils is when it tells us to bear the weight of the world. Jesus only tells us to bear the weight He gives us.
What wonderful advice!
I know the answer is resting and trusting in the finished work of Christ, albeit I become weary [the flesh is so weak]. It may be compassion fatigue, PTSD response, or being distracted by the daily grind, stress, or current crisis. Until I intentionally change my gaze and fix it on Jesus. Only then does it become possible to, “Be of good cheer.”
Hallelujah! We are given power through the Holy Spirit to do what we cannot do—carry on.
So true, Manette.
Hi, I’m Queen, I write from Italy. Can I ask you to pray for me for a bigger, loving heart? I have sometimes prayed but I’m not good. I have no faith. I try and call God he speak, cry, sing. But my illness consumes me and makes me fear that I can no longer give anything of myself. Can you please ask him to help me? I try to save people, I try to save children but I don’t always have the strength. Sometimes I get discouraged and cry because I wish that suffering does not exist. 😔
I will gladly pray for you, Queen. We all get discouraged, from time to time. But God can accomplish what we cannot. May He lift your spirit. ❤ ❤ ❤
Queen, maybe you need to be reminded that you are precious to God, whether or not you can “give of yourself” or “save” anyone! The Lord loved you enough to die for you, and not just so He could use you to bless others (although He will do that.) First and foremost, He wants to bless YOU! He wants you to know how much He loves you, to love Him, to know Him intimately, and spend time with Him. It’s admirable that you want to save others, but only God can do that. As you let go of the pressure to “perform,” and just rest in Jesus’ love, let His peace flood your body and soul. I don’t know what kind of sickness you have, but He knows, and He will not demand anything from you that He won’t enable you to do. This may be a season for you to “just be,” and let Jesus pour His healing balm over you. Then, in His timing, when He has restored and strengthened you, He will use you in ways you never imagined!
Blessings, ❤
Annie
I thank you very much for your words and I can tell you that I was very impressed by something that happened yesterday. I go to a hospital to do regular checkups. I am in the waiting room and then I go in and then I go out. Yesterday while I was waiting, I realized that right next to the elevator that I always take, there was a religious chapel, open, and I swear to you that I had never seen it. The doors were wide open and I felt drawn inside. You know how long it’s been since I can’t say a prayer and I didn’t even remember one. But I walked in, I finally felt like I had arrived home. I felt a strange peace. Was it really God who showed me this new way? My heart was trembling. I felt like a little girl who discovers the divine light. It was such a beautiful place and I sober sitting and I think he felt my heart and I felt like crying because I had never noticed that chapel, possible? Maybe it was never the right time. And yesterday it was. Maybe he felt my pain and drew me in there. It’s a mistery.
Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience.
The greatest joy of my salvation was to know (though we each do our part) I didn’t have to fix things. Our whole society and economic systems would need an entire metamorphosis, I knew it was impossible, but there was a God, and a God of love at that, and He had a plan. All I had to do was yield my life to Him and let Him work through me in whatever way He felt good.
Beautifully expressed.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” – Ephesians 6.12-13
Blessings to you, Anna.
And blessings to you. ❤
Hello Anna! You have written Very well on confronting evil. It is also Extremely tiring. …Kudos. …Have been a little ill, tired, and away from my blog for a long time. …Found You by Google search! Are You not on WordPress? Love and Regards. 🙂
My dear friend, I am sorry to hear that you have been ill. For a variety of reasons, I have taken a rest from blogging, myself. Please, know that you are still in my thoughts and prayers. May God watch over you. With love, A. ❤ ❤ ❤
Do keep in touch, my Dear Anna! 🙂
Reblogged this on lovehappinessandpeace and commented:
As ever, another gem from Friend Anna!
So True and Amen!! Praise Jesus-Yeshua Christ-Messiah All YE NATIONS!!
Love ❤ Always and Shalom, YSIC \o/
Kristi Ann