Most of the world is shocked and appalled at what is happening in Ukraine.  I feel compelled to share some thoughts on the situation, though I’m not confident I have anything personally profound to pass along.  However, I will also share God’s Word, and that is undoubtedly profound enough.  But perhaps these twelve reflections, and the Scripture included with them, will be a blessing to you.

This post is rather long, but I pray you find reading it is time well spent.

Let me start with perhaps the most unexpected statement.

Many of the Russian people are not necessarily evil

I recognize that as commentators talk about the invasion, they refer to “Russia” and the “Russian soldiers,” which tends to be rather inclusive.  Of course, it is Russia who is sending in Russian military to conquer Ukraine.  And of course, the nation and the soldiers are responsible for the death and destruction they are bringing to innocent people in a free land.

But it seems clear that many Russian citizens, and it sounds like even a fair number of invading soldiers, are opposed to this atrocity.

The nation and the soldiers are embroiled in this situation because their ruthless dictator demands it.  To stand against him often means punishment or even death.  But it is heartening to see so many brave Russians doing that very thing.

(Proverbs 28:15)  Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people. 

(Proverbs 29:2)  When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

The wicked may seem to prosper now, but God and God’s people will ultimately prevail

It is difficult to observe the seeming prosperity of people who clearly and completely disregard the Lord and his instructions.  They scoff at God and seem to advance in every way.  But they are only tools of the Lord to bring about his will.  (More on this in a moment.)

Here’s the bottom line: God always wins!  Consequently, God’s people always win as well.  If not in this world, then for all of eternity – which is finally the most important victory.  Sadly but appropriately, the wicked have a completely different destination.

(Psalm 73 – selected verses) From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Therefore their people turn to them and drink up waters in abundance. They say, “How would God know? Does the Most High know anything?” This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!

Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.  

Wars are a reminder that the End is coming

Jesus stated it clearly: warfare is a harbinger of his return.  Sadly, this world has always had wars, and it always will have wars right to the very end.  But every conflict is a reminder that Jesus’ return on the Last Day is nearer now than it ever was.  Wars are horrible; Jesus’ return, however, will be wonderful!  At least for those who love him.

(Matthew 24:6-8)  You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.  Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.  Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. … All these are the beginning of birth pains [leading to the Last Day]. 

Recent events may be the Lord calling the world back to Him

Things certainly haven’t been easy lately.  In fact, in some ways world and national events seem to be spiraling downhill.  Natural disasters.  Global weather patterns.  Political and civil unrest.  Addictions, homelessness, and crime.  Not to mention COVID and all its ramifications.  The senseless attack by a world power on a neighboring nation.  And now mankind faces another potential world war and/or nuclear annihilation.

In my mind, it seems clear that the Lord is allowing these struggles to occur because the majority of the people in this world have turned away from God and gone their own way.  Just as he did with the Israelites throughout the Old Testament, so the Lord is doing today.  It’s a message from God to the world: “Come back to me!  You are not faring, and will not fare, well on your own foolish path.”

May many heed his urgent call!

(Hosea 6:1-3)  “Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.  After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

(James 1:12)  Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

We (and the world) desperately need the true God and his Word

Closely related to the previous point is the simple truth that we need God.  You and I need God.  Everyone needs God. 

We need God for protection and provision; for guidance; for help and hope; for love, forgiveness and salvation.  There isn’t a single aspect of our lives where we don’t need the Lord!

The Lord reveals himself (and his many gracious promises!) in the Scriptures.  Search the Scriptures and one will find God!  As well as all the blessings that God brings! 

Yet the Bible is regarded by many as irrelevant.  It is anything but.

(Romans 15:4)  For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

(Isaiah 40:28-31)  Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

(Psalm 18:1-3)  I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

The Lord is in complete control

Humans, foolish as we are, like to think that we have things under control.  Or at least some things.  And those things we don’t control yet, we convince ourselves we can and will control someday.

Which is utter nonsense. 

We control nothing.  We can set our plans for the day and proceed to try to follow those plans.  But it doesn’t take much to derail us and send things spinning out of control.

The old expression, “Man proposes, but God disposes” is absolutely true.  The wonderful news is that even though we control nothing, our God controls everything!

And praise be to Him … he has perfect wisdom, complete power, and infinite love.  Which means our lives and our world are in great hands, even when circumstances seem nasty.

(Psalm 115:3)  Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

(Isaiah 14:24)  The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will happen.

(Proverbs 19:21)  Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

(Proverbs 16:9)  In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Even when we don’t understand his plan, the Lord is always acting in love on behalf of his own

Building off the previous point, the God who controls everything is also a God of boundless love. 

Case and point: no human fully understood God’s plan of salvation before he brought it about.  Yet it was a perfect plan, and God in love implemented it perfectly.  His own Son came to earth at just the right time, fulfilling the multitude of prophecies about him – right up to his redeeming sacrifice on the cross and his glorious resurrection on the third day.

The Lord still operates this way.  He makes his loving plans to benefit his people, and then he proceeds to carry those loving plans out.  Sometimes we recognize what God is doing or has accomplished; many times we won’t fully understand until we are with him in heaven.  Furthermore, what we judge as good isn’t always the different and greater good the Lord is bringing about.

But whether we comprehend or not doesn’t alter that fact that our God always has a loving plan. And thanks and praise be to him that he does!

(Isaiah 55:8-9)  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

(Romans 8:28)  We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

(Jeremiah 29:11)  I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Our trust must be based on our faithful and loving God

This is a crucially important point.  It rides on the back of the previous statements.

When everything hangs in the balance, people desperately want to trust in something.  But where should they go?  Upon what can they rely? 

The list of earthly choices is long, but ultimately empty.  NATO?  World leaders?  Military prowess or firepower?  Diplomacy?  Sanctions?  Fate?  Luck?  Not much guarantee in any of those!

So where do we place our trust?  Where do we rest our confidence in regard to the individuals we know in harms way in Ukraine? Or for the nation of Ukraine?  Or for the decisions of leaders who may be unhinged but possess devastating weapons?  Or for the welfare of the very world itself?  Or for any other matter that may keep us awake at night? 

There is only one source of hope, but it is a great one.  The best one.  The only one!  We place our hope confidently in the Lord who controls all things, and who carefully plans all things.  He is a faithful and loving God.

(Proverbs 3:5-6)  Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

(Isaiah 26:4)  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal.

(Psalm 20:7-8)  Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

(Psalm 118:6-9)  The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.

(Psalm 25:1-6)  In you, LORD my God, I put my trust. I trust in you; do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause. Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.

True peace is found in the Savior

There is no real peace when trust is placed in untrustworthy things (i.e. anything in the world).  However, when we truly trust in our God – an absolutely trustworthy source – then peace abounds!  And what a precious gift inner peace is!

The more people in this world who have this spiritual peace, the more worldly peace will prevail.  Own it.  Embrace it.  Share it!

(John 14:27)  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

(Philippians 4:7)  The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God’s gift of prayer is an amazing and powerful gift

Though we may personally lack control of events in this uncertain world, the Lord does not leave us powerless.  Rather, he urges us to access his almighty power by bringing our requests to him in prayer.  And he promises to hear and answer our prayers according to his loving wisdom!

How astonishing is that!

So pray, people of God.  Pray!  You don’t need me to tell you to pray or how to pray.  You already are.  I simply encourage you to continue to do so.

(Philippians 4:4-6)  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! … The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

(Isaiah 65:23-24)  They will be a people blessed by the LORD … Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.

We typically take true treasures too much for granted

It’s simultaneously riveting and revolting. 

Videos abound of rockets bombarding a city, tanks advancing, citizens taking up arms, mothers and children saying sobbing goodbyes to their husbands and fathers as they flee for refuge while others are stuck in bomb shelters.  Watching can’t help but bring a person to reflection. 

Besides the aching empathy and my ongoing prayers for those besieged people, and the profound inspiration Ukrainians are providing to the free world, here’s my greatest takeaway: I am far too apathetic about my abundant blessings, and far too lax in properly prioritizing my life.

Our gracious God has overwhelmed us with his goodness!  Our faith, freedom, and families flow from our faithful God!  Our confidence and comfort in our Savior; our great nation, even with its flaws; our ability to gather for worship when, where or how we see fit; our privilege to publicly register a dissenting opinion or cast a vote; the convenience of making our own decisions in our life, such as where we want to work or if we want to enlist in the military; the gift of being surrounded by family and sleeping peacefully in our own beds each night.  The list goes on and on, and every item on the list is a treasure from a generous God.

God help us to properly appreciate his countless blessings, and to appropriately prioritize our use of them.

(James 1:17-18)  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

(Ephesians 1:3)  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

(Psalm 103:1-5)  Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

(Matthew 6:33)  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

This world will never be heaven

Unfortunately, this current world won’t ever make the cut.  Try as we might, humans will never achieve the utopia they so long to create.  Sin permeates everything and casts it ugly shadow everywhere.

Fortunately, as Christians we recognize that this world is not the end-all-and-be-all.  There happens to be a much better destination in store for those who know their Savior … a place that really is perfect. 

Consequently, we live in this world as best we can, living for and reflecting the love of our Lord and striving to make our little place in the world the best place it can be.  But all the while we long desperately for the wonderful world to come!  Because there we will finally find perfection.

(Romans 8:18, 22-23)  I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. … We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

(Revelation 21:1-5)  Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

I pray these reflections, and especially the passages I shared, have been an encouragement to you.  Finally, our God really is the source of hope and his Word the center of our confidence.

Are there any additional points and passages that come to your mind?  If so, please share them in the comments section below.