Amid the horrific stories of shootings in schools, the news in August 2013 of Antoinette Tuff’s heroism was a beautiful exception. Antoinette, on staff at an elementary school, confronted 20-year-old Michael Hill when he entered the school building carrying weapons, including an assault rifle. “I just started talking to him,” Tuff said, “and let him know what was going on with me and that it would be okay.” Remarkably, Hill laid down his weapons and surrendered. Accounts of Tuff’s courage swept across the newswires, but she resisted acclaim. “I give it all to God. I’m not the hero. I was terrified.”
Antoinette Tuff exhibited God’s strength and mercy in what looked to be a violent moment. She didn’t run. She faced her fear with God’s help.
The prophet Isaiah promised Israel, a nation beset by violence and ruin, that God would be present with them. “Justice will rule in the wilderness. . . . And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever” (Isaiah 32:16-17). When God acts in righteousness, peace prevails: “My people will live in safety. . . . They will be at rest” (Isaiah 32:18).
Isaiah’s words don’t promise that we’ll never experience harm, but that—in the end—God’s righteousness and God’s well-being (one of the meanings for the word peace) will have the final say. In Jesus, God has stepped into the middle of all our violence, into the center of everything that seeks to ruin us. God won’t let sin ravage our world unchecked. He loves us and has moved to enact our healing. Because of this, Isaiah can proclaim with confidence: “The LORD will greatly bless his people” (Isaiah 32:20).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 13:22-35
More:
Read Isaiah 32:1-13. What do you notice in these dire and disturbing words? Where do you find parallels to your world?
Next:
Where is your world ravaged and in need of God’s peace and righteousness? List two or three of these places, and pray for God to act, if it is His will.
GChoo on August 11, 2014 at 4:34 am
Winn, thank you for this timely reminder of God’s reassuring Word when our Christian brothers and sisters around the world are facing great persecution now. Thank God for the hope of protection and freedom to those who trust in Him. We need to stand in solidarity in prayer and offer our financial help to Christian organisations involve in this area of ministry. Praying that God will bring His people to safety and freedom from persecution. Also those involve in these ministries. In Jesus Name, Amen
Winn Collier on August 11, 2014 at 9:28 am
thank you for the prayer
philakins on August 11, 2014 at 7:46 am
We thank God for His blessings and protection. God bless the writer for the timely reminder of God’s reassuring Word. I live in Nigeria and it’s sad to recount how terrorists known as ‘Boko Haram’ literally translated ‘western education is sin or taboo’ has been killing christians. They would just walk into churches in the middle of a service and start to shoot people or detonate bombs. They have also kidnapped students from schools and killed several others with bombs. In fact, churches a beginning to close services and relocate from the troubled spots. And recently, I was praying that God would raise prophets like Elijah to save His people.
Winn Collier on August 11, 2014 at 9:29 am
God, have mercy on us
ibukunoluwa12 on August 11, 2014 at 11:01 am
@Philakins I am from Nigeria too and just the thoughts of those events alone sometimes wants me to doubt God, but reminders like this devotional and studying the scriptures makes it easy for us to comprehend that in difficult times like this God is the only one we can turn to and I know at His appointed time, our dear nation and every other places affected by violence and persecution will be liberated from this terrible events.
Mike Wittmer on August 11, 2014 at 2:49 pm
I disagree with her statement, “I’m not a hero. I was terrified.” She was a hero because she was terrified but didn’t let her fear stop or control her.
Your post reminds me of the terrible genocide being carried out against Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq today. May God have mercy on his children, and may he grant them the courage to keep the faith. They are the heroes.
Winn Collier on August 19, 2014 at 4:15 pm
stepping into our fears is one of the most heroic things we can do.
LCC on August 12, 2014 at 1:57 am
Father God, my prayers goes out to all victims of persecution everywhere in this world and also to all those that are on the ground helping the victims. Father God, You hear their cries, Lord, provide for them, shelter them, defend them, deliver them, protect them, comfort them and strengthen them. Let their hearts be filled with Your peace in the midst of this darkness. Bless them, Father. Father God, You are our hope in this world of darkness. In Jesus’ name I pray and ask.