Shelter from Violence
Rescue me, LORD, from evildoers; protect me from the violent, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day. They make their tongues as sharp as serpents; the poison of vipers is on their lips. Keep me safe, LORD, from the hands of the wicked; protect me from the violent
Psalm 140:1-4
Finally, a ceasefire was declared following explosions and sirens heard all around Israel with half the country sitting in bomb shelters for close to a week, after more than 1200 rockets were fired at Israel from terror groups like Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Now, peace was looming on the horizon, but less than a day into this ceasefire, sirens blared once again as Gaza rockets were sent into Israel. This launching was declared an “accident” by the Hamas representative, but nonetheless, Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ordered the military leaders and IDF to respond and make it “quick and effective.”
This is life in Israel; even when the sirens have quieted and the missiles have stopped falling, the fear and anxiety of the next attack remain. Imagine spending almost a week in a bomb shelter with your community of family, neighbors, children, babies, and the elderly. You cannot leave to go to work, school, or even outside for fresh air. Your life is paused. A new reality exists; a terrible and bloody reality filled with terror, the wailing of sirens, and rocket fire.
Many Israelis who have had to endure the latest round of attacks from Gaza are people that have fled the war in Ukraine. They’ve had escaped the terrors of sirens and bombings in their country, only to find themselves again under rocket fire. Many people are suffering severe panic attacks and PTSD as they relive the trauma of the war they left.
It’s a stressful situation one which is difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t lived it themselves. These refugees have survived horrific conditions to make their way to Israel and are only trying to pick up the pieces of their lives and get back to “normal.” But, they are facing so many challenges, with healing being the biggest. These people who have suffered so much are the ones in most need of our kindness and generosity.
We can only say how thankful we are for your prayers that always come at the right time. Thanks to the power of your prayers, this latest round of rocket fire was over relatively quickly.
As we are now on day 8 of this 21 days of Global prayer, continue praying with us for Israel’s protection and salvation. We know that together, our prayers have immense power to build, as well as destroy, what the enemy plots.
Meanwhile, it’s a time for kindness, which is crucial for healing and restoration. Our Ukrainian immigrants, as well as all Israelis, need a touch of compassion and peace after their time in the bomb shelters. We would like to do this by providing a food basket for their family for a month.
Could you support at least one of these families during the upcoming Shavuot (Pentecost) with a food basket that will help sustain them for the month while also making them feel seen, loved, and cared for?
A donation of as little as $30 will help feed one family during this challenging time as they recover from the impact and trauma of this recent attack. Your act of kindness can bring the love and healing power of Jesus to these struggling and hurting people.
Thank you for your prayers and support. Together, make a difference!