Actions and Truth

Posted on January 18, 2010 12:00 AM MST by Sara Richardson

“Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.” I John 3:18

This week the news has been filled with heartbreaking images. Lifeless bodies stacked on the sides of broken roads. Weeping women. Wandering children. Men on their knees in the ruins of a city that was destroyed in less than one minute. As I’ve watched the news, read the articles, and looked a t the pictures, I have found it hard to comprehend such devastation, such suffering. And in my ignorance I found myself asking questions. Why Haiti? Why did it have to happen to these people who already suffer so much?

It has been especially difficult for me to look at pictures of the hundreds of thousands of orphans in Haiti. Oh, I ache for them! I can’t imagine my two little boys wandering the streets in search of food and water. In search of help that doesn’t exist. Children should be protected and sheltered. They should know security. They should have someone to cherish them. And so many don’t. Such images have haunted me these past couple of days. And I have faced the temptation to allow feelings of helplessness to render me useless. What can I do? How can I help? Miles and circumstances  distance me from Haiti, but I refuse to give into the desire to shut down my computer and leave those images behind. I want to love the people of Haiti with actions and in truth.

Truth.

The truth is, I can help. I know most of us have already given what we can to the relief efforts. We’ve taken action. But I can also pray. Prayer is action. I often take it for granted. I often forget about the call to pray. But what if…

If I pray will the people of Haiti find strength? Will they be comforted? Will God show his power through the hope that emerges from devestation? Will he tenderly draw hurting wounded souls to himself? Yes. I have faith that our prayers will make a difference.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”   - James 5:13-16

What are you praying for the people of Haiti?

Send us a comment or question