Be Still

I've been having a revival. Not because I've joined a huge crowd inside a hot tent where we shouted out the name of Je-sus! (Though I have to admit I'd probably do that right now if someone invited me.) I've become intimately aware of God again by attending, of all things, a training.

Last weekend I went to the Hands of Hope training at The Wesleyan Church headquarters on how to identify and care for human trafficking victims. (The process of getting me to that event is a story in itself that reveals God's leading.) The presence of God was evident every moment of the training. (Which makes sense. Here were a group of people who were giving their sacrifice of praise by defending the weak. See what God says about that.)

But the real impact for me came after the event.

When I was driving home from the training, I started to think of the many stories I had heard. I know just a few trafficking victims personally, and that was tough enough; but suddenly I was overwhelmed with compassion for all the people I didn't know who were trapped right now, feeling hopeless and alone and scared. I wanted to save them all. I wanted to rush back to the training and to rally everyone together to take immediate action!

The logical side of me knew I couldn't do that, but the feeling wouldn't go away. And I began to wonder if we really can make any difference at all. The crime of trafficking is too big, too rampant, too organized, too desperate.

As the tears of compassion and frustration mingled, I suddenly became aware of a verse that I've known for years but had never known so beautifully: "Be still and know that I am God."

A message straight from God to me. I instantly calmed down, in awe. God sees those people I was praying for; he knows them by name. He knows the most deeply entrenched trafficker by name too. He is God. I can be still and wait for him to lead me to my next step.

I don't deserve to beg at the foot of the cross, and yet God is using me to do his work. I am a broken, sinful person, and yet I am entirely restored by the touch of God. I am free! I get to join with others to bring a radical change to our world, to free those in captivity, to overthrow the agents of darkness, to bring hope and beauty to our world. I am an abolitionist!

I started laughing. (Yes, I know I sound like a freak. I felt like I was an emotional teenager again.) With the profound knowledge of these two things, I had to laugh: I love this God who is so good and just. And he loves me.

Now, that's revival!