Do you bear God’s name in suffering?
For years, tension has been palpable between the majority Meitei tribe, and the minority Kuki tribe in Manipur, India. That tension finally came to a head on May 4, 2023, when violence broke out. This is a day that will mark Esha’s life forever – the day when everything changed.
Following the initial violence, her husband – a local pastor – fled the area to save himself, fearing that he looked too similar to members of the Kuki tribe and could be attacked.
Amidst her husband fleeing to safety, unknown people came and burned both their church and home to the ground. Not a single piece of church property or personal belongings could be saved, including her three children’s schoolbooks.
Left with nothing but the clothes they wore that day, Esha and her children fled, now finding themselves in a makeshift relief camp. Yet, proudly she says, “The suffering we bear is in the name of God. We are proud of the suffering which we bear today.”
“The suffering we bear is in the name of God. We are proud of the suffering which we bear today.”
We could all learn from Esha and how she is walking through hardship – standing firm in her faith despite suffering. Would you respond the same way as Esha if you lost everything?
I can’t imagine what this must be like…
Esha’s story is that of tens of thousands of families in Manipur. And the Christians there are echoing her prayer request: “That the situation would bring back peace and normalcy so we can continue ministry again.”
Throughout the Bible, we see that God works despite our deepest valleys. Isaiah 43:2-3 reminds us of God’s faithfulness despite the difficulties we face in life; “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
As you ponder how you might respond if you were in Esha’s shoes, consider praying for all those who have been affected by the violence in Manipur. Pray that God would meet their daily needs and that the violence would come to an end – leaving behind peace so that ministry can begin again.
Pray
– Pray Isaiah 43:2-3 over those affected in Manipur – that God’s faithfulness would shine through in the darkest of times.
– Pray that God would reveal His faithfulness to you when you walk through hardship.
Take Action
– Memorize Isaiah 43:2-3 so that in times of trouble you can recall this reminder of God’s faithfulness.
– Share a word of encouragement or a prayer on our Virtual Prayer Wall as you stand with Manipur.
