Hey #JustWrite!! We have made it halfway in 2020 and it has been a year!! After finishing school, I thought I would bounce back into a normal routine for myself but little did I know I would take a much needed stay-cation with friends and come back to a lesser normal. As we know, there is a continuous war happening and the truth is, it's causing most of us (myself included) to be tired. I've recognized that there is a war within three areas: race, economics, and spiritual. A racial war has been brewing for quite some time but this year has proven to expose even more hatred and hypocrisy within the world. As Americans, living in the United States has shown that within the economic war, we are not the land of the free with the booming economy many envy around the world. The government needs major prayer and solid leaders who have the people's best interests at heart. And then there is the ongoing spiritual war within the body of Christ. In this hour, my spirit has been pained watching so many express their truths about the spiritual abuse they have suffered from within the church. The concept of abuse in all forms (verbal, sexual, mental, emotional, financial, spiritual, etc.) is something I have advocated against for awhile no matter if I suffered the same as the victims. My empathetic nature as a human being causes me to feel other's pain and discern a person's need for safety and security. For black people, the church was at one point a pillar and safe haven for the community. Now in a strange way, it is in a list of places to avoid especially for the millennial generations. Many would rather deal with the world instead of the church. The good news in the midst of this turmoil, confusion, and chaos is that God is still God. He is on the throne and His sovereignty overrides everything that is taking place in this earthly realm. His Word is our ammunition for the battles we have faced and will continue to face. Matthew 24:6 states, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet." "When you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. And when you draw near to the battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, today you are drawing near for battle against your enemies: let not your heart faint. Do not fear or panic or be in dread of them, for the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory." (Deuteronomy 20:1-4) "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
As we navigate the battles we witness daily, we also wrestle with internal battles. We must choose our battles wisely and change the narrative of what has been written. Let us all continue to advocate, educate, and communicate, one moment at a time.
In His service,
Lequvia Ousley
