Our Ghastly Struggle

Good morning…

Evil is not a word I use very often. Yet, in yesterday’s post I shared the words from Romans 12:21 bleached into my tattered shirt: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

After waking from my second sleep, I re-read our blog post before opening a weekly devotional sent to my inbox. There was the word again. Evil.

“If I did not believe,” says the Dorothy Day quote, “if I did not make what is called an act of faith (and each act of faith increases our faith, and our capacity for faith), if I did not have faith that the works of mercy do lighten the sum total of suffering in the world, so that those who are suffering on both sides of this ghastly struggle somehow mysteriously find their pain lifted and some balm of consolation poured on their wounds, if I did not believe these things, the problem of evil would indeed be overwhelming.”

With these piercing words, our daily priorities are made crystal clear.

• Believe, really believe.
• Act in faith to increase our faith.
• Believe that our works of mercy do lighten the sum total of our world’s suffering.
• On both sides of this ghastly struggle, people are suffering. Our acts of mercy somehow mysteriously lift pain and pour balm on deep wounds.
• Our acts of faith matter. Our works of mercy do lighten suffering. If we do not believe these things, the problem of evil would indeed be overwhelming.

1 Peter 3:9 in the Amplified translation now adds to our daily to-do list.

…and never return evil for evil or insult for insult [avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse], but on the contrary, give a blessing [pray for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection]; for you have been called for this very purpose, that you might inherit a blessing [from God that brings well-being, happiness, and protection].

• Never return evil for evil or insult for insult.
• Avoid scolding, berating, and any kind of abuse.
• Give a blessing by praying for one another’s well-being, contentment, and protection.
• We each have been called for this very purpose, that, individually and collectively, we might inherit an eternal blessing from God.

As we increase our daily acts of faith and our kind works of mercy, the Spirit of our living LORD multiplies mightily. Inside us. Around us. Among us. On both sides of this ghastly struggle, suffering is somehow mysteriously transformed as God brings well-being, happiness, and protection.

Do we believe?

Do we really believe?

…Sue…