Advent, Day 20

Thus says the LORD: I will return to Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the LORD of hosts shall be called the holy mountain. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age. And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets. Thus says the LORD of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the LORD of hosts? Thus says the LORD of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country; and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness. - Zechariah 8

In Uganda, being gay is now a crime punishable
by life in prison. Pray for the gay citizens
of Uganda, and for a change in the law.
(Photo: BBC, Reuters)

It seems impossible. Growth where there has been destruction? Success where there has been failure? Good where there has been evil? Something coming out of nothing?

It seems impossible. A job falls apart. A marriage falls apart. A nation falls apart. If God is good, what role can God possibly play in this situation?

Yet God mourns with us. God suffers loss with us. Even impossibility is no barrier to God's grace.

The words are nice, but in the moment, they can be of little comfort.

In South Sudan, political infighting has spiraled into
violence that threatens civil war. Pray for the citizens
of South Sudan. (Photo: BBC, Reuters)

And that is where we come in. We must pray for the needs of the world. Will our prayers change anything? Absolutely.


If we don't pray, how will we sustain our relationship with God? There is no human relationship without communication, and communication involves some amount of caring work and occasional sacrifices of our own immediate desires. Why should it be any different with God?

If we don't pray, how will we come to understand how much we care? If I don't pray for the needs of the world, I may well just forget the needs of the world.

People die in accidents all the time. When it happens at
the holidays, the trauma can be especially difficult on family
and friends. Pray for those whose lives are affected by
tragedy this holiday season. (Photo from MSNBC, Laura Seitz,
Deseret News, AP)

If we don't pray, how will anyone ever make a difference? Do we expect God to swoop in and do everything for us? Yet God calls us to do good work in the world, not because it's necessary for salvation (it's not), but because that's just what saved people do.

And so Zechariah gives us God's words: "Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the LORD of hosts?" Today, let's listen for God's voice, let's watch for God at work, and then let's go join in that work with comfort and joy.