Facing Goliath

What do you even write in a time like this? How do you even find the words to express yourself? My heart is broken for our beautiful country, for our people. I find myself at a crossroads with my choice of thoughts. I feel a very strong compulsion to turn towards anger, frustration, prejudice and a loss of hope. But on the other hand, I feel a very strong need to fight these feelings and choose hope, love and gratitude.

When I actually pause to reflect on what is taking place at the moment, I can actually feel my defensive walls up, not wanting to actually process what I am seeing and hearing. I feel most of us are probably in this state of mind, a state of numbness to the constant trauma of watching and hearing about our beautiful country in complete disarray. Many others may be in a state of anger or even hopelessness and depression.

Where do we turn to in this time where we seem to have no understanding or answers? I don’t have all the answers, but I know that I will choose to turn to God. Even when I am feeling heartbroken, numbed by the trauma and angry I will turn to the Lord for guidance, healing, discernment and wisdom.

We need to rally together and pray for this beautiful nation and ALL of our people. We need to pray that through this we can see restoration, healing and restorative justice. Let us be slow to turn to hatred, prejudice and bitterness.

Amongst all of the negativity surrounding us I also wanted to share some of the light that I have seen. I have had the privilege of seeing our community and people in action during our neighbourhood patrols, to see our people band together and support one another. I have seen so much selflessness, love and unity. People have been quick to offer support and a helping hand, share what little they have and link hands in prayer. I am so aware of all the devastation, hopelessness, hurt and anger, and I am not denying any of it, but I am consciously choosing to not be consumed by it and rather to challenge my thoughts and the way they guide my words and behaviour. We all have a very important choice now, in the way in which we decide to respond to these events.

I just read a quote that I believe speaks so much truth into all of our circumstances including the one we currently find ourselves in. “The Israelites were afraid because they were measuring themselves against Goliath. But David was confident because he was measuring Goliath against God.”

What is going on currently is no doubt a Goliath for us all, maybe not all in the same way, but we all have to choose the way in which we approach our Goliath. It is so easy for us all to allow our circumstances to get the better of us and for us to choose the easy route. The route of anger, hate, fear, prejudice, racism and so on. I am encouraging everyone, including myself, to face what is no doubt a Goliath, not because we have the strength or ability, but because the almighty God we serve is so much bigger than all of this. Let us choose to have the perspective and faith that David had when facing his giant.

This is a challenge to myself, and I hope to you as well, to choose love, empathy, compassion, understanding and a willingness to not become part of the very many problems faced within our beautiful country.

I am still proud to be a South African and I will refuse to give up on our people. So, I pray now that God reveals to us or own prejudices, our own fears, our owns shortcomings, our own unhealthy thoughts, so that we can be part of the movement towards creating the South Africa we can all be proud of.

2 Chronicles 20:15 – “He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the LORD says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.”

The battle belongs to You.