“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…Nations are in uproar…He makes wars cease…Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:1,6,9,10)

    This past week we all heard about the war between Israel and Palestine.  There is continuing warfare in Ukraine and Russia.  We know of all kinds of conflict and violence in our nation.  And all of this on time of a history of “wars and rumors of war” (Matthew 24:6)
    Recently I have been reading books about the wars and violence in history.  From a book about the Civil War, to books and a miniseries on World War II, to books and conversations about racism and its violence and murders of people because of their race.  
    The Scriptures also include accounts of violence and war.  The Psalmist recognize this conflict, and also tells that God “makes wars cease.”  Jesus tells us we will have “wars and rumors of war…Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6)
    So what are we to do about all of this?  What can we do?  Here are three things we all can do:

1. Trust God at all times.  I know that is hard to do when we hear of such senseless violence and killing and destruction.  But the message of Scripture is repeated:  God is in control.  In Christ we have the confidence that He will be with us, “an ever-present help in trouble”.  And God will see us through to the end, when He will make wars cease.  As the Lord tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.”
   
2. So let us pray.  As Presiding Bishop of the ELCA wrote in a recent letter to the Church in Jordan and the Holy Land:, “I encourage the people of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to unite in prayer for the families of innocent civilians whose lives were lost, as well as pray for healing for all the injured, fearful and traumatized.”
   
3. Faith and prayer leads to actions.  As citizens of the USA, we can do as Bishop Eaton encourages, “We also will advocate to U.S, officials your “appeal to the international community to stand with us in these efforts to address the crisis in Gaza and to urge all involved to uphold the principles of international humanitarian law.”  
   

In addition to this, we can offer our help in any way possible.  I’m thinking this includes financial support to relief agencies (such as Lutheran Disaster Response (with a link online at ELCA.org), and other ways to help and give to those experiencing th trauma of war.  Perhaps after prayer, the first action on our part can be to live in love,peace, and unity.  (Romans 12:9-21 give a good instruction on this.)
We pray:  “God, our refuge and strength, you have bound us together in a common life.  In all conflicts, help us to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, to listen for your voice amid competing claims, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”  (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, page 76).