In a couple of months, I will be moving. The stress of moving in today’s world can be overwhelming; questions like ‘How do I move my couch?’ and ‘Who will help me move?’ are only a couple of the worries.
Then there’s the gap in rent. My apartment lease ends at the end of February, but a new lease won’t start till the beginning of March, leaving a night with no housing in between. That one night of possibly sleeping in my car has me a little worried; will I be homeless for a day?
When this thought ran through my mind, I realized how selfish and spoiled I was being. Not having a solid plan for 12 hours while moving my apartment full of things is such a small inconvenience when there are thousands of people around the world who have no home at all, no comforts, and often none of the necessities they really need.
There are so many refugees across the world right now who have been forced to leave everything behind – their lifestyle, their homes, and their families. Most of them have nowhere to go, and those that do manage to find a place to stay have to start from scratch.
The last couple of months at The Voice of the Martyrs we have focused on Christians facing Islamic extremists, the families of the martyrs around the world, and those on the front lines of the Good Fight. Psalm 83:3 says, “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (ESV).
Even in my one day of uncertainty, I know I will, eventually, have a home and a bed to return to. I have belongings that I will take with me and friends that will help me. Right now, I have so much to be thankful for. My budget might be tight and my schedule might be full, but God has taken care of me in magnificent ways.
Matthew 25:35 says, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (ESV). Perhaps the little we feel we have now can be used to feed the hungry or provide shelter for the homeless.
The Voice of the Martyrs uses the funds God has blessed us – and our donors – with to come alongside weary and downcast Christians and care for them in a unique way. We’re able to provide for their physical needs with medicine, food, clothing, and shelter, but we’re also able to help them spiritually, with encouragement, Bibles, ministry tools, and a community found in Christ.
Christine Young has only been working for Voice of the Martyrs for a few months, but helping ‘the least of these’ has always been a passion of hers. Christine has a Bachelors in English from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, where The Voice of the Martyrs was spoken of frequently. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and crocheting.
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