Do We Sleep In The Shade Of The Almighty?
Searching For God In Times Of Conflict
by Eric Elkin
Shortly after the United States military invaded Iraq, the Associated Press released a photo of an American tank standing guard in Baghdad. Next to the tank, an American soldier stood watch. A couple of children were under the tank, lying on the ground sleeping. The children had no pillow or blanket, and the ground was covered with broken glass.
I posted the picture on the office door at camp. This was the doorway summer staff would often pass through to discuss problems they were having with campers. When staff entered the office, I reminded them to use the picture to filter their issues. I would tell them to look at the children lying under a tank sleeping. Are your problems greater than or less than theirs?
Stability, security, and consistency are critical assets little children need in the development process. The presence of these conditions helps them become healthy adults. Children in war zones have none of these things. Instead, they are fed bullets, explosions, fear, and bloodshed. I cannot begin to imagine how these experiences shape them as adults.
Have you ever considered the impact of war on the development of children? I doubt the topic moves much farther than a table conversation or a study group. Obviously, the leaders of the nations do not. Dignitaries living in comfortable palaces find trumped-up reasons to invade other countries or choose bullets over diplomacy.
In the United States, we celebrate the sacrifice of our soldiers. Do we ever acknowledge the sacrifice of the children in war zones? These children never get the chance to decide. They put their trust in adults to care for them and to offer a refuge for their growth. Children have little choice but to trust adults. They cannot survive without them.
Psalm 91 sings the praise of God, who protects the weak and vulnerable. This God, the psalmist writes, will protect us from all harm. I can hear the cynics cry out, “Where is this God in Ukraine? Where was God in Syria?” We are good at blaming others for our own actions. God has provided everything we need for life, prosperity, and peace. Still, we humans decide to use all of these assets to develop new ways to destroy each other.
God tells us to pray, but we think shouting is more effective. We are told to love our enemies, but we choose to kill them with angry words and bullets. The Word of the Lord tells us to be grateful. We read those words and say, I will be grateful when I get all I deserve. We commit our lives to these selfish practices then wonder where God is? Perhaps if we decided to sleep in the shade of the Almighty, we wouldn’t need to look for God. Nor would we need God to intervene in our path towards self-destruction.
Click to read Psalm 91
Reflection Questions:
What do children need to develop into healthy adults?
Where do you imagine they find these things during a time of war?
How often do you consider the plight of children in a war zone?
Is there any difference between adults and children when it comes to war?