Keep the faith

Pictured is a little girl kneeling and praying beside her bed, alongside her stuffed teddy bear. This spoke volumes to my heart—and my thoughts are all over the place. It could be a portrayal of a little girl praying because one or both of her parents are sick, or perhaps her beloved pet has been lost or died, or any number of things. Notice too that the window has been shattered from some tragic event. Even though her heart could very well be broken, she still has faith to pray to her loving Father in heaven.”From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”~~Psalm 61:1-2

I was drawn to this picture and colored it several days ago. Since then, devastating earthquakes and massive destruction has occurred in Turkey, Syria and other parts of the Middle East. Countless lives have been lost and many are buried alive in the rubble. The death toll is still rising—and it’s expected to reach 20,000. In Turkey more and more buildings collapse following the unprecedented number of aftershocks and the magnitude of them. “But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.”~~Mark 13:7-8; “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation [note the small t]; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”~~John 16:33

I have viewed heartbreaking photos on a Christian site of a father holding his daughter's hand all the way even after she had died. In one photo a 10 year old girl protects her baby brother underneath the rubble—when the rescue team approached her she promised them to be their servant for the rest of her life if they'll save her brother and her. One photo was of a loyal dog crying alongside its buried owner. I watched one dramatic video of a father rescuing his young girl from underneath the rubble. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”~~Psalm 23:4; “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”~~Isaiah 41:10

l am more compelled than ever to share not only about the love of God in Christ but about the coming judgment of God (during the 7-Year Tribulation) that will be thousands of times more severe than these earthquakes and will encompass the whole world.