April 6, 2014 by Erin

Everything Sad is Coming Untrue

Sometimes I get discouraged about how broken the world is. I mean, I have a theological answer to suffering that makes logical sense, but that logic falls to pieces when faced with the senselessness and the depth of pain attached to something like slavery, or child soldiers, or the mass and systematic oppression of women around the world. It’s just too much to cope with, even for me, sitting in a trendy café with my MacBook and my $4 cappuccino. Darkness is overwhelming. And I can’t say I’m not nearly convinced by those who can’t believe a good God could exist in such a dark world as ours.

Nearly convinced. But not quite. Because as overwhelming as the darkness is, it’s the light that really begs for an explanation. In such a terrible world, how can the pink clouds of evening be so beautiful? How do you explain a symphony, or a painting? How do you account for the undeniable urge inside people to help one another, despite the risk of personal harm? Why do people travel thousands of miles, giving up their time and their money to befriend and uplift others they’ve never met? I’m convinced it’s because there’s something at work in the world, and one drop of it is more powerful than all the evil and darkness of centuries combined: Love.

To quote from the oft-quoted Lord of the Rings trilogy, “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.” Because of Love, everything sad is coming untrue.

And how is it happening? The answer is simple: people. Ordinary folks who, whether they know it or not, are acting as agents of God’s grace by writing those symphonies or carrying someone’s groceries or speaking for those who cannot.

My sister Rebekah is one of those people. In a few weeks, she’s headed to India with a team to support and encourage girls who have been rescued from forced prostitution. If you don’t know what’s happening with sex trafficking around the world, and particularly in India, I urge you to do a little research. Young girls are taken from their homes, usually under false pretenses, imprisoned by fear and shame, and repeatedly raped for profit. They have no choices, no future.

But, because of the compelling and overwhelming Love of Christ, there are people working to bring freedom. Crossroads, my home church in Cincinnati, partners with International Justice Mission to provide aftercare homes for girls who have been rescued. The program works in a holistic way to bring healing and hope to residents. And it’s working. (Check out the video below to learn more.)

So, Bekah and the team from Crossroads are going to be part of something amazing: bringing freedom. And we can be part of it too. This post actually turns out to be a shameless plea for your money. (What’s a sister for if not to make blunt and uncomfortable requests on your behalf?) Here’s the thing: Bekah needs another $900 to cover the expenses of her trip. And the way I see it, $900 is not so much if we all throw in a little. Give $20, give 50 cents, give a couple thousand and underwrite everyone else on the team who’s short. Whatever it is, I can promise you it is money well spent. (You can click here if you’re incredibly inspired and want to blow your coffee budget now.)

Investing in initiatives like these is one small way of choosing Love. Let’s live our lives in such a way that we’re pushing back darkness at every step, even if it’s only inches at a time. Let’s do it on purpose. And even though we all know the evil and the chaos can be overwhelming, I can promise you this: Love is stronger. Choose Love.

Click here to invest in Bekah’s trip.

Click here to read about it in Bekah’s words.

Click here to learn more about sex trafficking.

Watch this video to learn about Crossroads’ work in India.