Last Generation: Resilience

TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE FINAL CONFLICT BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL ■ VOL. 30 NO. 3

■ CURRENTS

God has always prepared a way for His people to rebound in the face

of traumatic and stressful experiences.

BY JULIAN M. MELGOSA, PhD

Abuse, whether experienced as

a child, through a violent act,

or within the home, leaves

scars that can last a lifetime. God

is our healer and our helper in all

our pain and trials. He has given

us doctors, counselors, friends, and

family members who will walk with

us through the healing process. But

what is it in the human psyche that

gives us the ability to rebound from

life’s major challenges? Resilience.

The good news is that God’s path to

resilience can be learned by each of us.

But first, what is resilience?

An entry in Merriam-Webster’s

Collegiate Dictionary defines resilience

as the “ability to recover from or

adjust easily to misfortune or change.”

This kind of “resilience is the process

of adapting well when faced with a

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traumatic event, such as adversity,

trauma, tragedy, and threats or significant

sources of stress.” 1

Some life experiences that can

cause significant stress and trauma

are domestic abuse, crime (rape or

assault), natural disaster, fire, terrorism,

war, persecution, the sudden

death of a dear one, the betrayal

of a spouse, or the diagnosis of a

terminal disease.

When trauma occurs, the wounds

leave psychological scars behind and

may continue to produce emotional

and physical pain for a long time.

Certain triggers cause victims to relive

the episodes of abuse. Carmen only

needs a whiff of a brand of cologne to

remember her abuser’s fingers around

her neck. Sometimes, when these

intrusive memories rise, she feels the

pain of the bruising on her neck—

bruises that no longer exist. Mark

often wakes up from nightmares of

his boss screaming directly into his ear

from the time when this cruel supervisor

demanded excessive work in an

underpaid job.

The process of healing may not be

quick, but when we are healed, we

are able to remember those events

without experiencing pain and fear.

How did Carmen and Mark get

past the pain and fear? God provided

a path to resilience for them

using spiritual strategies. They

found peace through reciting and

memorizing reassuring Scripture

promises. They found support in

a caring community of believers at

ADAM AND EVE

church. They found solace in prayer

as they developed a friendship with

God, confiding in Him their deepest

feelings and simply talking to Him

throughout the day.

How do Christians understand

resilience? When we go through

a traumatic event, we ask God,

“What are You teaching me? What

lessons do I need to learn? How

do I need to grow from this experience?”

Thus, God provides a path

to resilience for us.

RESILIENCE IS BIBLICAL

From the beginning of the Bible

to the end, we read stories of people

who faced difficulty, experienced

abuse and tragedy, and yet became

courageous through trauma. Ever

“And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it

came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain

rose up…and slew him.” Gen. 4:8.

Adam and Eve were stunned by the unthinkable,

horrific attack of one son killing the other. On that day,

Adam and Eve lost two sons—one to death, the other

to extreme estrangement. For every parent, losing a

child is one of the most traumatic events in life. For

some time after the loss, parents often experience recurrent,

intrusive, and distressing

memories. Contemporary

data shows that they are also

prone to depression, anxiety,

the physical effects of stress,

and the reduction of their life

span. In some cases, their faith

is shaken and lost.

Surely on that dark day

Adam and Eve relived their

own disobedience in the

Garden of Eden and couldn’t

help experiencing guilt and

anguish. The death of Abel

and the sin of Cain were

delayed consequences of their

own disobedience and constantly

reminded the grieving

parents of the prophecy that

they would die.

How did they manage to

get through that pain and sorrow and move on? God

provided Adam and Eve with a path to resilience.

Even while they grieved over the sudden loss of

their sons, Adam and Eve were blessed with joy and

hope through the birth of another son whom God

appointed as the progenitor of the promised Savior.

Eve called her son Seth (compensation, substitution),

for “God has appointed another seed for me instead

of Abel.” Gen. 4:25, NKJV.

The guidance and

coaching of the Lord

helped Adam and Eve

to find strength in the

“meaning and purpose

of their lives” and in the

life of their newborn son.

They learned to “put

things into perspective”

with the understanding

that a Savior was promised

and that there was a time

for sadness and a time

for joy. 2 God’s path to

resilience for Adam and

Eve included growing in

their understanding of the

enormity of their sin and

in the magnitude of the

promise of the Savior. See

Gen. 3:15.

Vol. 30 No. 3 3

since Adam and Eve lost their home

in the Garden, humanity has discovered

behaviors and thoughts that

lead to resilience.

Resilience is not a personality trait.

Resilience is a lifestyle that must be

learned and practiced. Resilience

is bouncing back, continuing on,

rebuilding, forgiving, and resuming

the generous, loving life God wants

us to live.

Throughout his ministry as an

evangelist and missionary for God,

Paul experienced trauma through

abuse and persecution. He was terrorized

by mobs. He was stoned and

taken for dead. He was hauled into

court and unjustly accused. He was

beaten and put in prison chains. He

was shipwrecked and even bitten

by a poisonous snake. And most of

these events occurred multiple times.

Paul’s resilience was evident when

he wrote the memorable words:

“We are troubled on every side, yet

not distressed; we are perplexed,

JACOB

but not in despair; persecuted, but

not forsaken; cast down, but not

destroyed.” 2 Cor. 4:8, 9.

This attitude may seem unnatural;

this ability may seem supernatural.

But “resilience is ordinary, not

extraordinary.” 3 It is available for

every one of us.

Our mastery of resilience is related

to how we handle significant sources

of stress and what our support

system looks like. Research tells us

that being surrounded by supportive

Jacob experienced fear and distress when he heard

that his brother Esau and 400 men were marching

toward him and his family. Jacob had deceived his

brother Esau and his father many years before, and his

last known communication from Esau was, “I will kill

my brother Jacob.” Gen. 27:41, NKJV.

In addition to feeling the weight of guilt for deceiving

his brother, Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed

because his family and servants were unarmed and

unprepared for battle. See Gen. 32:1–23.

How did Jacob overcome his terror and make

things right with his brother? God provided a path to

resilience for Jacob. The Lord allowed Jacob to wrestle

and struggle with Him. At first, Jacob’s struggle was for

fear of losing his life because he assumed the stranger

had been sent by Esau to kill him. He probably tried to

overpower the man at first, then to escape. The more

Jacob wrestled, the more desperate he became. Perhaps

he wrestled in his mind with

God, questioning why he was

called to return to Canaan only

to be caught in life-threatening

conditions.

Eventually, Jacob realized

he was gripping the arms of a

heavenly being. He continued

the struggle because he needed

forgiveness and legitimate

blessing from God. Wrestling

with God allowed Jacob to

receive forgiveness from his

brother, because it is only as we

have been forgiven that we can

forgive or ask for forgiveness

from others.

As the morning dawned,

Jacob demonstrated strategies

that are now understood as building blocks for

resilience:

He accepted that change is a part of living.

He moved toward his goals by decisive action.

He kept things in perspective and maintained a

hopeful outlook. 4

Jacob coped sensibly with fear and avoided seeing

the situation as a crisis escalating into an insurmountable

problem. As he prepared gifts for Esau, he demonstrated

gratitude, another aspect of resilience. The once

boastful Jacob displayed humility and graciousness

through his verbal and non-verbal behaviors toward

his brother.

God also provided a path to resilience for Jacob

using spiritual strategies. “God did not forsake Jacob.

His mercy was still extended to his erring, distrustful

servant. The Lord compassionately revealed just

what Jacob needed—a Savior.” 5 God also gave Jacob

evidence of forgiveness

through the change of his

name. “Thy name shall

be called no more Jacob,

but Israel: for as a prince

hast thou power with God

and with men, and hast

prevailed.” Gen. 32:28.

Part of the conflict

between Jacob and Esau had

its roots in material inheritance.

At times, stress comes

to us because of financial

constraints which generate

conflict. But when we trust

in God and are open to His

leading, the path to resilience

helps us grow in faithfulness

and strength to overcome.

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DAVID

Truly, the life of David was

full of trauma. Here are some

highlights:

As a young shepherd, his

life was at risk from lions

and bears harassing his flock.

1 Sam. 17:37.

He himself risks his life

when he offers to fight Goliath.

He fights numerous

battles against the Philistines

and Amalekites.

His relationship with King

Saul is loaded with trouble;

and he is the victim of multiple

attacks from the king

whose intention is to kill David.

David is also humiliated and hurt deeply. King Saul

orders his daughter, David’s wife, to marry another

man while David is living in exile. 1 Sam. 25:44.

When the Amalekites conquer several cities and

burn them down to the ground, they take captive the

Israelites’ wives, sons, and daughters. As a result,

David’s men want to stone him. 1 Sam. 30:1–6.

Amnon, David’s son, rapes Tamar, David’s daughter,

causing Absalom, another of David’s sons, to kill

Amnon in revenge. 2 Sam. 13:28, 29.

Absalom leads a rebellion against his own father

David and dies at the hand of David’s soldiers. 2 Sam.

15–18.

With so many tragic and life-or-death events in his

life, how does David “keep calm and carry on”? God

provides a path to resilience for

David using spiritual strategies.

David understood from the

time he was a teenager that the

outward darkness in his life created

inner darkness. But David

knew how to turn his inner

darkness to light by turning to

God. His greatest strategy is

taking his troubles to the LORD

in prayer. David knew that

God understands us when we

speak desperate words. David

said, “I am in great distress.

Please let us fall into the hand of

the LORD, for His mercies are

great.” 2 Sam. 24:14, NKJV.

The Psalms offer multiple examples of David facing

his troubles and finding comfort and strength in God by:

• Taking his troubles to God in prayer

• Maintaining a positive view when asking for help,

even in impossible situations

• Trusting in God

• Praising God for His blessings

• Worshipping God

• Working with God

It has been said that difficulty will make or break

you. After all the misfortune David endured, he

survived. He was not broken. He made it! To our

present day, David is honored as the most notable

king of Israel and considered the model of a “man

after [God’s] own heart.” Acts 13:22.

relationships within and outside

the family is the primary factor for

developing resilience. “Relationships

that create love and trust, [that]

provide role models, and [that] offer

encouragement and reassurance help

bolster a person’s resilience.” 6

Is Jesus the most important person

in your support network? God

provides a path to resilience for us.

If we remain open to God’s counsel,

we experience more positive results

in developing resilience. With the

wisdom of God, we are able to find

resolution to problems, make a

plan, and move on. We emerge from

suffering with renewed strength

and purpose.

You cannot develop resilience in

the religious realm without understanding

how God feels about you.

The most important person in the

world to God is you. He loves you

with an everlasting love. He redeems

you by His blood. He names you as

His heir—His son or daughter. He

crowns you with glory and honor—

His royal prince or princess. He

covers you with a robe of righteousness

so that you are able to love and

forgive like Jesus. His divine love

provides stability, confidence, purpose,

and a desire to live like Jesus.

Abusive experiences—or for

that matter any difficult and traumatic

event—do not need to keep

us chained in darkness. When God

is with us, darkness flees away from

His glorious light. Yes, the experience

may be difficult, and the path may

be dark, for God does not promise

us a smooth road or an easy journey.

But even in dark times, we find notes

of hope in His hands. We hold on

tightly to God’s promise that He will

walk with us as we press on through

the valleys and shadows. With God

walking beside us, we can sing

the song with David, “Yea, though

I walk through the valley of the

shadow of death, I will fear no evil:

for Thou art with me.” Psalm 23:4.

Examining the experiences of several

Bible characters as they worked

through their stress and trauma and

found resilience could help us discover

a path to our own resilience.

Vol. 30 No. 3 5

A great portion of Naomi’s life was full of painful

events leading her to bitterness. She developed a

“Mara attitude,” not only because of what was happening

in the outward darkness surrounding her

family, but also because of the inner darkness that had

grown in her heart.

Famine forced Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, to

move his family to Moab to avoid starvation. In a

relatively short time, Elimelech died leaving Naomi

to fend for their two sons Mahlon and Chilion in

a foreign nation. Later, her sons married Moabite

women—Orpah and Ruth. For

ten years these young couples

did not have children. Then, the

men died, and we find these

three widows in danger and

deprived of earning a living.

In her lament, Naomi tells

her daughters-in-law, “Call me

not Naomi, call me Mara: for

the Almighty hath dealt very

bitterly with me. I went out full

and the Lord hath brought me

home again empty: why then

call ye me Naomi, seeing the

Lord hath testified against me,

and the Almighty hath afflicted

me?” Ruth 1:20, 21.

NAOMI

Naomi’s statement expressed trauma and desperation.

Far away from her community of fellow

God-worshippers, she attributed the reason of her

misfortune and affliction to God.

How did Naomi get back on track? God provided

a path to resilience for Naomi using spiritual

strategies. Like David who took his complaints to

God, Naomi complained to God. Although complaining

is not the purest way to cope, when bitter

Mara returned home, God blessed her. The inner

darkness receded, and as she became Naomi again,

she praised God.

Naomi used another

coping style for developing

resilience. She leaned on the

support from her hometown

community. She did not isolate

herself in the middle of her

pain but allowed her community

to encourage her during

the hard times, and then the

same friends rejoiced with her

during the joyful times. We

are also called to be healing

communities. Like family, a

supportive church soothes the

pain and provides practical

and emotional support.

YOU CAN DEVELOP

RESILIENCE

We live in a world full of pain and

injustice. Not only do we witness

suffering and death, we experience it.

Yet Jesus promises that such pain will

become joy: “Verily, verily, I say unto

you, That ye shall weep and lament,

but the world shall rejoice: and ye

shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow

shall be turned into joy.” John 16:20.

You may be going through a

difficult time in an area of your life,

whether it be health, family, work,

faith, relationships, or church. Or

perhaps you already went through

a traumatic event and you are

suffering mentally or emotionally

for what happened. Maybe the

situation is serious enough that

you should consider professional

psychological/psychiatric help.

Whatever the case, you are not

alone. You can be blessed by the

Lord, both directly and indirectly,

through the support of other people.

Allow God to work in your life. Keep

the avenues of prayer and Scripture

open. Tell Him how you feel. Then

place your trust in God and praise

Him. Share any blessings you receive

with others and participate in your

church group of believers.

Even when you do not understand

why the Lord is allowing

painful things to happen, get help.

Lean on someone you trust and talk

about what hurts you. You are not

alone. Finally, be patient, for He

will not allow the pain to be greater

than you can take.

May God bless each of us as we

allow the Lord to help us work

through our troubles and solve our

painful situations. May God give us

wisdom to provide meaningful support

to those who suffer. May we all

choose God’s path to resilience.v

REFERENCES

1. “The Road to Resilience: what is resilience?”

American Psychological Association, www.apa.org.

2. “Resilience: What Is It?” BrainLine.

www.brainline.org.

3. See note 1.

4. Ibid.

5. White, Ellen, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 183.

6. See note 1.

Dr. Julian Melgosa is the Associate Director of

Education for the General Conference of Seventhday

Adventists. He is a chartered psychologist

and has written many articles and books about

emotional health. This article is excerpted from

his sermon “God’s Path to Resilience,” given

at the enditnow Emphasis Day. For similar

resources, visit www.enditnow.org.

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■ BODYWISE

Try these simple lifestyle

tips to help sustain you

in times of physical or

emotional stress.

NOURISH YOUR BODY

Start your day with a good, hearty breakfast—

a bowl of whole grain cereal, a juicy orange or grapefruit,

a banana, or fresh pineapple. Later in the day,

enjoy a variety of crunchy raw vegetables and fiber-rich

cooked vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

Fill up on delicious foods that are rich in fiber,

vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals

at each meal.

Enjoy tantalizing fruits to satisfy your taste for

sweets. Eat an apple, pear, orange, kiwi, mango,

banana, some grapes, or some pineapple chunks.

Sweeten your cereal with dried fruit, such as raisins,

dates, or dried cherries.

Choose good fats, like walnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts,

sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, olives, and avocados.

When you use oil, choose olive, soy, or canola.

Build a good defense. Get your vitamins, minerals,

antioxidants, and phytochemicals primarily from

wholesome foods. If you take a supplement, choose

a multiple vitamin with minerals that provides 100

percent or less of the U.S. Recommended Daily Intake

(USRDI) of each nutrient. Overdosing on vitamins can

stress your body. Take iron and calcium supplements at

separate times.

DRINK TO YOUR HEALTH

Satisfy your thirst with cool, clear water. Enjoy at

least eight cups of water a day. Avoid alcohol and beverages

laden with sugar and caffeine.

STRIKE A BALANCE

Manage your time. Organize your day to include

what’s important. Get enough rest, sleep, and relaxation.

Get to bed on time, but also take the time to relax each

day and each week. Once in a while, plan a restful vacation.

Live one day at a time.

NOURISH RELATIONSHIPS

People who are close with their friends and family

are healthier and happier, so take time to be with the

special people in your life.

Live by the Golden Rule—“Do unto others what you

would have them do unto you.” This includes strangers,

close friends, and family!

NOURISH YOUR SOUL

Accept that God loves you, cares for you, and will guide

you. Reinforce those thoughts regularly through meditating

on His sure promises found in His Word, the Bible.

PAUSE FOR PERSPECTIVE

Maintain an attitude of gratitude. Count the many

ways you are blessed. Place everything in perspective;

remember, it could be worse.

Adapted from “Stress Savers in a Nutshell” by Vicki Griffin, director

of Lifestyle Matters, an educational resource that produces materials

designed to help you improve physical health, optimize mental function,

overcome addictions, and discover the keys to wholeness of body,

mind, and spirit. www.lifestylematters.com.

Vol. 30 No. 3 7

■ LIFE OF FAITH

We need more than a temporary fix for stress.

BY GILLIAN BETHEL, PhD

ow would you like a

vacation on a palmfringed

tropical island

right now? Would it

remove your stress?

Temporarily, no doubt, but

the stress would be back. More

practical for most of us would be an

evening spent in a relaxed setting,

doing something we enjoy. But for

how long would that relieve our

stress? When it comes to lasting

stress management, we definitely

need something beyond quick fixes.

A wealth of websites, articles,

and books already exist to help

us conquer stress, but they often

treat stress like a virus that can be

isolated and remedied.

Each one of us is unique, and our

personal stress levels depend on

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how we react to the events of our

lives. Because stressors—the triggers

of stress—are interwoven with

the fabric of our daily experience,

true stress management requires a

change in the way we relate to life

as a whole.

Christianity holds the key to

managing this stress. But God is

interested in doing more for us than

just helping us handle stressors. He

wants to make our entire experience

in life glow as a result of our

knowing Him. He wants to fill our

emptiness and be our continual

source of guidance, strength, and

joy, as well as a place of refuge

when things get tough.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

ABOUT STRESS

First, let’s look at a few facts

about stress. Certain stressors, from

lack of sleep to noise and even

heat, are biologically threatening

to our physical functioning. Other

stressors (by far the majority) are

often only threatening because we

consciously or unconsciously perceive

them to be threatening. These

might range from the loss of a loved

one to running out of gas. They also

include work overload, time pressures,

poor social relationships, and

constant interruptions.

Our reaction to these stressors is

called the “fight-or-flight” response.

This instinctual reaction enables us

to rise to the occasion, such as performing

unusual feats of endurance

and strength. However, it is ideally

suited to handling only short-term

challenges and emergencies.

So, when a particular stressor

or series of stressors continues for

months or years because of our life

situation, the body and mind sustain

strain and ultimately become

injured unless some other remedy

is found to handle the stress.

HOW GOD BECAME MY

ULTIMATE SOLUTION

Becoming a Christian transformed

my life and the way that I

handled stress. I woke each morning

remembering that Jesus was

real, and I talked with Him about

the day ahead, asking for strength

and guidance.

Whenever stressed, I could talk

to Him about it and find help in

the Bible. I would also pray for the

people involved. Many people said

they could see in my face that something

good had happened to me.

I even experienced God’s deliverance

from addiction. Prior to really

turning to Him, I always kept a

pack of cigarettes and smoked

when things got extra stressful.

I had “given up” smoking many

times by finishing a pack and

vowing to never buy another, but

that only worked until another

onslaught of stress. This time,

however, I threw away a half-full

pack, knowing I would not need

cigarettes at all any more. And I

have never wanted one since.

I felt in awe of this ability—this

gift from Jesus. For some people,

it’s a much harder battle to stop

smoking, but I have seen so many

people delivered from addictions

that I know there is nothing too

hard for God. It was as if He was

saying to me, “You won’t need

these anymore; I will help you cope

from now on.”

The Bible became dearer and

dearer to me. It was now a book

about someone I knew, and it was

full of messages from Him to me. I

continued to memorize Bible verses

and found them powerful weapons

against stress. There seemed to be

a promise for whatever challenge

I faced! “And ye shall know the

truth, and the truth shall make you

free.” John 8:32.

More than that, I learned to

simply give stressful situations over

to Him instead of trying to handle

them by myself. It saved me so

much worry! It was amazing how

difficulties resolved with God’s

intervention. So often He worked

things out “exceeding abundantly

above all [I could] ask or think,”

(Eph. 3:20) and I would just marvel!

I found the promise of Jesus in John

10:10 to be true: “I am come that

they might have life, and that they

might have it more abundantly.”

DO CHRISTIANS HAVE

PROBLEMS WITH STRESS?

Knowing God and giving Him

our life is the ultimate answer to

stress, but does doing that mean

our stress problems are over? Well,

it depends!

Obviously, Christians still

face stressors, yet they have the

means to meet and overcome

them in God’s power—the most

powerful force possible! The Bible

even portrays Jesus’ followers

cheerfully facing imprisonment or

death. Surely, we should be able to

handle a difficult work situation or

an irritating person!

While stressors can still stimulate

our natural God-given “fight-orflight”

response, it can now be

directed to fleeing to the refuge

of prayer and the grace of God’s

Bible promises are powerful

weapons against stress.

There seems to be a promise for

every possible stressful situation!

Vol. 30 No. 3 9

promises. God will show us how

to fight in His way and in His

strength. He promises, “There hath

no temptation taken you but such

as is common to man: but God is

faithful, who will not suffer you to

be tempted above that ye are able;

but will with the temptation also

make a way to escape, that ye may

be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13.

With God there is always hope.

Even if you find yourself under a

continuous barrage of stressors,

God’s comfort and

strength will relieve you

from the stress response

that threatens to break

down your mental and

physical health. If this is

not happening in your

life, you are missing out

on the promise above.

Use the questions

in the box to evaluate the way in

which you’re handling the stressors

in your life.

Some time ago, my husband and I

experienced several stressful months

during which he had no regular job.

We were living in a rural area by

choice, and job opportunities were

not very plentiful. As time passed

and our financial situation looked

bleaker, worry became a very real

temptation. For our daughter’s sake,

we wanted to stay in our beautiful

country setting, where she had good

friends and an ideal environment.

I found myself falling down on

the wrong side of nearly all of these

questions, so I was experiencing

a lot of stress. I had to ask for the

Lord’s forgiveness and His power

to make the necessary changes

in my heart and life. As I prayed,

my peace of mind was restored.

Eventually, work came to my husband

from an unexpected quarter—

as things often do under the Lord’s

watch—with the added blessing of

giving him a much-needed change

of pace. God is so good!

God’s comfort and strength will

relieve you from the stress response

that threatens to break down your

mental and physical health.

BREAKING THE CYCLE

OF STRESS

Stressors can come as a vicious

cycle in which one problem leads to

another, creating intense stress and

eventually a breakdown in physical

and mental health. More often than

not, when a bad situation comes up,

we strive in vain for the outcome we

want. In this process, we get tired and

frustrated so that even more things go

wrong, and in turn we are more likely

to dwell on negative thoughts. Thus,

the downward path begins. We sleep

poorly and start the day late without

spending quality time in Bible study

and prayer. We worry about the

situation until we begin to experience

stress symptoms and may ultimately

become sick or depressed.

But Jesus is very tender and merciful.

He says, “My grace is sufficient

for thee: for my strength is made

perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9. He

doesn’t leave us to spiral downwards

into despair but reaches to us in

every way He can, reminding us that

He is more than able to handle things

for us if we ask Him. “He hath said,

I will never leave thee nor forsake

thee. So that we may

boldly say, The Lord is

my helper.” Heb. 13:5, 6.

Our part is simply to

trust and obey. If we take

time to remind ourselves

of all His promises to us

in Scripture, things fall

back into their true perspective,

and our stress

is relieved. “And God is able to

make all grace abound toward you,

that ye, always having all sufficiency

in all things, may abound to every

good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8.

We need to make the well-known

prayer our own: “God, help me to

remember that nothing is going to

happen to me today that You and I

can’t handle together.” That is the

bottom line in stress management.v

Gillian Bethel, PhD, worked in stress management

for many years. She is passionate about

making Christianity practical for daily challenges.

Excerpted from her pocketbook From

Stress to Joy.

HOW AM I HANDLING THIS STRESSOR?

• Am I turning this over to God and trusting Him, or am I worrying about it?

• Am I allowing God to work out His will, or am I doing my own will?

• Am I dwelling on negative thoughts, or am I asking Jesus to take them away?

• Am I counting my blessings, or am I wanting more and more?

• Am I claiming Bible promises for this situation, or am I hiding from the truth?

• Am I spending quality time with Jesus, or am I so tired and overloaded that I miss out?

• Am I taking care of my health by eating nutritious food, drinking plenty of water,

getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly?

10

Last Generation

■ CHOICES

Where do you reflexively turn in times of stress?

BY KEN MINDORO

A

baby’s brain is a beautiful

thing. At birth, its brain contains

over 100 billion nerve

cells or neurons, constituting almost

all that it will ever have. The process

of neural development begins with

neurons immediately essential to life

outside the womb. Examples of these

would be neurons for regulating

heart rate, body

temperature, or

breathing. Later,

higher functions,

such as sexual

behavior, attachment,

or concrete

and abstract

thought, develop

and mature. Brain

development—what we call “learning”—occurs

through a process

of strengthening, forming, and/

or breaking down the connections

between neurons. In fact, interneuronal

connections, or synapses, form

pathways throughout the brain.

Some pathways allow the body to

respond to stimuli without conscious

thought. These responses, called

reflexes, help babies to act in complex

ways that would otherwise be impossible

at birth. For example, stroking

the cheek of a newborn baby elicits

the reflex to turn the head in the

direction of the cheek

that was stroked.

This rooting reflex,

essential to life, allows

a newborn to readily

respond to breastfeeding

cues. Also, you can touch

a spoon to the tip of a baby’s

tongue and watch how the baby will

Unlike a baby’s reflex to turn towards a

parent when stressed, we don’t naturally

seek our Heavenly Father and instead

substitute inferior or harmful things.

push it out using the tongue-thrust

reflex. This reflex protects babies

from choking or ingesting foreign

objects and is one of the reasons a

mother must wait four to six months

before introducing solid food.

While these infant reflexes disappear

as babies mature, other reflexes

stay with us throughout adulthood.

For example, if you step on a sharp

object while barefoot, the flexion/

cross-extension reflex kicks in, pulling

your injured foot away while

concurrently extending the opposite

limb. Or, if you have ever inadvertently

placed your

hand in scalding

hot water, it is

the withdrawal

reflex that pulls

your arm out of harm’s way.

These reflexes save you the precious

microseconds of conscious thought

required

to think,

“Hmmm...

That water is

really hot and

burning my

hand...Maybe

I should try

and pull it

away quickly!”

In other words, reflexes help us to

minimize damage to our bodies.

Our brains also contain pathways

that, while not necessarily common

to all people, help us to navigate life

more smoothly and enjoyably. For

example, we all have learned behaviors

that we perform repeatedly.

Repetition strengthens our brain

connections so that we perform

tasks more easily over time. These

learned behaviors, or habits, enable

us to play a musical instrument,

drive a car, brush our teeth, or type

without looking at the keyboard.

Vol. 30 No. 3 11

Imagine if I had to consciously

lift each finger and decide on the

distance and strength needed to

depress each key! Therefore, like

reflexes, habits also allow us to live

our lives safely and efficiently.

REFLEXES FOR COPING

In addition to reflexes and habits,

we have still more complex ways of

responding to stressors in our environment.

For example, coping mechanisms

are developed responses to

internal and external stimuli in an

effort to master, tolerate, or reduce

stressful situations. (Note: Not all

stress is bad. Eustress, or “good”

stress, is the beneficial stress that

encourages us to function properly.

Examples of eustress would include

feeling joy at the birth of a child,

excitement when getting married, or

hunger before a meal. We can cope

with these forms of stress. However,

the negative form of stress is distress

and occurs when stressors overcome

our coping mechanisms.)

The all-important question is

how do you respond to distressful

situations? How do you deal with

emotional pain? Some react to

stress by turning to substances that

produce physical pleasure, such

as tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs,

or food. Pleasurable activities, like

sex or exercise, can also distract

people from their problems. Sadly,

some seek entertainment, spending

countless hours on music, movies, or

electronic games. And some displace

their stress onto others by inflicting

verbal or physical abuse. Rather than

solving problems, these distractions

weaken the body, dull the mind, and

torment the soul. The bottom line is

that the problem still remains.

JESUS’ EXAMPLE OF COPING

WITH STRESS

Though these coping mechanisms

may fail us, we have a better way to

deal with stress. The Bible teaches that

optimum physical and mental health

is achieved by following God’s plan to

“seek…first the kingdom of God and

His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33.

In fact, we learn from Jesus’

example that even in the most stressful

circumstances, we must seek God

first. Consider how in the Garden

of Gethsemane, Jesus “fell prostrate

upon the ground in an agony of

distress.” 1 The cumulative effects

of millennia of sin committed by all

humanity were bound up and given

to Him on this dark night. Therefore,

the vilest physical or emotional harm

ever experienced by humanity cannot

compare to the stress and pain

that Jesus experienced on our behalf

in Gethsemane.

“And being in an agony, He

prayed more earnestly.” Luke 22:44.

We see from Jesus’ example that He

did not pull away from pain as we

do when we touch a hot stove. He

did not assuage His stress by engaging

in mindless entertainment as

we often do. Nor did He seek sleep

to anesthetize the deep pain that

threatened His very life.

Christ’s habit, the reflex which He

developed throughout His entire life,

was to earnestly cling to His Father

praying, “Abba, Father, all things

are possible unto Thee; take away

this cup from Me: nevertheless not

what I will, but what Thou wilt.”

Mark 14:36. And as Christ submitted

His will to the Father, He gained

divine strength to overcome. “As

the will of man co-operates with the

will of God, it becomes omnipotent.

Whatever is to be done at His command

may be accomplished in His

strength.” 2 The power that sustained

Jesus on that dark night was not His

own but that of His Father above.

THE BEST COPING

MECHANISM

We need look no further than to

our Savior for the example we must

follow to overcome the stress we

face in life. “For we have not an high

priest which cannot be touched with

the feeling of our infirmities; but was

in all points tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15.

“There hath no temptation taken

you but such as is common to man:

but God is faithful, who will not suffer

you to be tempted above that ye

are able; but will with the temptation

also make a way to escape, that ye

may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13.

Therefore, to overcome as Christ did,

we must learn to pray even as our

Savior prayed.

We are doomed to failure if we

choose to face life’s stress while

unconnected to Jesus Christ.

However, if we are united with Him,

we shall stand through any stress or

persecution that this world may lay

upon us.

“There is no danger that the

Lord will neglect the prayers of

His people. The danger is that

in temptation and trial they will

become discouraged and fail to

persevere in prayer.” 3 v

REFERENCES

1. White, Ellen, Manuscript 52, 1904.

2. White, Ellen, Christ’s Object Lessons, 333.

3. White, Ellen, Ibid., 175.

Used with permission from AdVindicate,

www.advindicate.com.

The Bible teaches that optimum physical

and mental health is achieved when we

“seek… first the kingdom of God,

and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33

12

Last Generation

■ CHOICES

The way you view your situation can impact your ability to handle it.

BY ELIZABETH JANE HALL

ADJUST YOUR

PERSPECTIVE

At a women’s conference,

prime seats were erroneously

double-ticketed. Many of the ladies

who had previously arranged

for front seats were delegated to

the back, and their unhappiness

threatened to derail the tone of the

meeting. Apologies were made but

to no avail. Then, the chairwoman

had an idea. The next speaker was

Joni Eareckson Tada, a quadriplegic

who had spent more than several

decades in a wheelchair. When

she was wheeled onto the stage,

she said, “Some of you ladies

are unhappy with your seats. I

understand.” She then launched

into her motivational talk. No one

complained after that. Indeed, we

can gain perspective and courage

by learning from people who have

overcome challenges greater than

our own.

CHECK YOUR FOCUS

Selective filtering is a cognitive

distortion where the

mind focuses on the negative to the

point of excluding or downplaying

the positive. Disgruntled with

someone? Identify his positive traits

and contributions. Maybe a husband

does not help in the kitchen or

with housework, but he does take

out the garbage, wash the car, mow

the yard, play with the children,

and work faithfully. Our happiness

and the quality of our relationships

depend upon appreciating others’

good traits and contributions.

EXPRESSION DEEPENS

IMPRESSION

Our words have the power

to react upon our mood and character.

If we speak or write negative

thoughts, negativity will register

more easily upon our brains.

By strengthening the synapses

involved in negativity, thinking

unpleasant thoughts becomes more

dominant. In contrast, if we express

positive thoughts, positive thinking

will become easier for us. Of course,

there are times we need to discuss

problems; but these can often be

restated or reframed in such a way

as to convey hope.

CHECK YOUR MIRRORS

By beholding, we become

changed. Mirror neurons

are brain cells that fire either when

performing an action or when

merely observing it, forming a visual-motor

circuit within the brain.

This explains why viewers connect

so strongly with on-screen emotions.

It also explains how we can

experience “vicarious stress” when

watching the typical TV dramas,

characterized by crime, dishonesty,

and lust. Vicarious stress impacts

us physically as well. For instance,

over time, it can impair the blood

vessels’ ability to dilate and lead to

hypertension.

DISTINGUISH

BETWEEN REAL AND

IMAGINARY STRESS

About 30 years ago, I lived on a

rural campus and often walked

two miles along a mountain

road to my home. Near dusk one

evening, I had a mile to go when

suddenly my heart increased its

pounding and I broke out into a

profuse sweat. There, three feet

ahead of me was a copperhead. I

began to throw rocks at the snake.

Three times. No movement. I

thought maybe a car had run

over it. I edged closer. No, a car

had not hit the snake. My enemy

was a stick! Imaginary stress can

produce many of the same physiological

reactions as real pressure.

Why waste your energy on imaginary

stress?

DEVELOP MANAGEABLE

STRATEGIES

List all your roles. Set

realistic goals and then break

those goals into achievable subgoals

while allowing for some

buffer time in your schedule for

unexpected situations. Working

from a list helps you to stay

focused on your priorities.

Since happiness and health

depend upon the harmonious

development of the physical,

mental, social, and spiritual

aspects of our being, carve out

some time to invest in your health

and happiness.v

This article was originally published on

www.wildwoodhealth.com. Elizabeth J.

Hall is an investigative health journalist,

teacher, and writer for Wildwood Lifestyle

Center in Georgia, USA.

Vol. 30 No. 3 13

■ CHOICES

How can we provide a healing space in a broken world?

BY KEALA THOMPSON

In the olden days in Hawaii,

one could spot a warrior fleeing

from battle with avengers

in hot pursuit. His only safety was

to get to one of the villages allocated

by the chiefs as a “city of refuge.”

Today, one of these traditional

sites called Pu’uhonua is found at

the Kona Coast. Surrounded by

a 965-foot-long masonry wall, it

served as a sanctuary for defeated

warriors, non-combatants, and

those who violated kapu (sacred

laws). 1 Sound familiar? These were

just like the cities of refuge in the

Bible! In fact, the name Pu’uhonua

means “a place of refuge.”

At some point in the battle of

life, we too have found ourselves

fugitives of our broken dreams

and relationships, and perhaps we

have run away from God. Then, we

embark on a journey to seek out

soft spots from our hard realities—

safe places where we can regain our

compass and eventually heal.

Let’s follow one such journey in a

classic story.

BECOMING A PRODIGAL

Luke 15:11–13 introduces us to

a family: “A certain man had two

sons; and the younger of them

said to his father, ‘Father, give me

the portion of goods that falleth

to me.’ And he divided unto them

his living. And not many days

after, the younger son gathered all

together and took his journey into

a far country.”

Loathing the restraint in his

home and impatient to experience

the world, the immature youth ventured

to pursue his heart’s desire.

With plenty of money and liberty

to do as he pleased, he joined the

wrong crowd and plunged into

the deep end of sin, wasting his

“wealth in riotous living” with

prostitutes. He squandered his

manhood and consumed his youthful

dreams and spiritual aspirations

in the fires of lust.

Then, a famine struck, leaving

him to scrape the bottom of the barrel

with a job feeding pigs. Afflicted

by hunger, he even craved the very

slop he fed the pigs. Where were his

companions—those who had flattered

him and had eaten and drunk

at his expense? Alone, with money

spent and hunger unsatisfied, with

pride humbled and morals lost, he

was left to feel the gaping emptiness

of his soul. Wretchedness was

spelled all over his being.

Does this sound like someone we

know? Or coming closer to home,

have we had our own episodes in

prodigality?

Let’s see how this prodigal fared

and the factors that fostered his

14

Last Generation

resilience and set him on the path

to recovery.

RETURNING TO A SAFE

PLACE

Thankfully, the story takes a new

turn: “And when he came to himself,

he said, ‘How many hired servants

of my father have bread enough and

to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will arise and go to my Father.’”

Luke 15:17.

A Safe Home: In his misery, he

thought of home: Oh, how well the

servants are treated there! Now, he discerned

the wisdom in the order and

restraint enforced in his home. He

was convinced of his father’s love,

which had been reflected through

proper home governance. It was this

love that set his feet homeward.

We need more homes for prodigals

to run back to. Our homes can

be sanctuaries where both sons and

servants are welcomed; places where

outcasts, having sold themselves

cheap to this thankless world, can

find a Pu’uhonua; homes where the

Sun of Righteousness can come to

every penitent soul with healing in

His wings. Mal. 4:2.

A Safe Person: But it is not the

home in itself that drew him; it was

his father’s goodness that arrested

his attention. We learn of this father’s

tender heart: “When he was yet a

great way off, his father saw him.”

Luke 15:20. This son had caused him

so much heartache, yet he had been

looking out for him every single day!

Though his son had been degraded

by years of sin and suffering, the

father’s yearning love still discerned

his son’s form from afar. He received

him in a long, clinging embrace.

When the son began a recital of his

confession, the father didn’t let him

finish his request. Instead, he sent

for gift after gift—“the best robe…a

ring on his hand…and shoes on his

feet.” Verse 22. Then, he ordered that

the fatted calf be killed, and a party

began!

To dispel his son’s feelings of

unworthiness, the father affirmed

him as “this my son.” Verse 24.

How accepting! Despite a thorough

knowledge of his son’s blunder, he

still called him “son.” His value was

not diminished in the father’s sight.

A Safe Church: In a typical first

century Jewish community, whenever

a boy wasted his inheritance

among Gentiles and then returned

home, a ceremony called kezazah

would be performed to banish him

from the community. This explains

why the father ran to meet him,

accepted him, and immediately set

up a celebration in place of kezazah.

Furthermore, Jewish fathers never

ran because if they did, they would

have to lift up their tunics to avoid

tripping on them, and it was considered

shameful for a man to expose

his bare legs. 2 But he bore this shame

to spare his son from the disgrace

of kezazah. With the father’s signal

acceptance of the prodigal, the community

could do nothing but join in.

This is why the father’s household

also celebrated and “began to be

merry.” Luke 15:24.

In the same way, we in our

churches should recognize that Christ

bore the shame of every sinner in the

fullest sense by hanging naked on that

cross, exposing not only His legs but

His whole self. So, when God receives

a prodigal, wasted and full of the

marks of transgression and sends him

our way, we are to join in the joy of the

angels of God who rejoice over one

sinner who repents. Verse 10.

In contrast to the joyful servants

is the older brother. Learning that

the feasting was meant to welcome

his estranged brother, “he was angry

and would not go in.” Verse 28. At

the father’s entreaty, he burst out

in complaint, disgruntled that his

brother was getting away with folly

while he had been slaving away for

his dad. He plainly showed that,

were he in the father’s place, he

wouldn’t have received the prodigal.

So, when our brethren who have

strayed from the Lord come stumbling

back to church, let’s never be

found like the older brother or Cain

of old, asking, “Am I my brother’s

keeper?” Instead, eager to watch

for souls as those who must give

account, we should pray for them

and show them the One who says,

“Come unto Me.” Matt. 11:28.

THE SAFEST PLACE

Turning away from every earthly

comfort, there is only one place

where souls are truly mended. The

Psalmist describes it as “the secret

place of the Most High.” He said

of the Lord, “He is my Refuge and

my Fortress: my God; in Him will I

trust.” Psalm 91:1, 2.

Now here is the true Pu’uhonua to

which every sin-ridden soul can run

and be made whole!v

REFERENCES

1. “History and Culture,” National Park Service,

nps.gov, Dec. 29, 2017.

2. “The Prodigal Son’s Father Shouldn’t have

Run!” Biola, magazine.biola.edu, 2010.

Pastor Keala Thompson is the speaker/director

for A Loud and Clear Call ministry. He

also conducts Healing Rain School, a 10-day

program designed to help others experience

physical, emotional, and spiritual healing in

the light of God’s love.

When God sends a contrite

prodigal our way, we are to join

in the joy of the angels who rejoice

over one repentant sinner.

Vol. 30 No. 3 15

■ LIFE OF FAITH

The ancient beauty and diversity of

the Psalms echo the prayers of our

hearts and meet our spiritual needs.

BY ADRIANA ZODER

When I first began reading

the Bible, I was moved by

the beauty of the Psalms. I

had studied French and English literature

at the University of Bucharest

and was pleasantly surprised to

find such rich stimulation in the

Scriptures. Furthermore, I found that

they provided for all my spiritual

needs. Throughout them ran a theme

of victory—that God was the solution

for every problem I faced.

I am not alone in my love for the

Psalms. Throughout history, many

have cherished them. As one Bible

student comments, “No matter what

mood I am in, I can find something

in the Psalms—something to boost

me up, something to calm me down,

or something to put me back into

connection with God.”

New Bible students also find the

Psalms practical and easy to understand.

Even serious Bible students

retreat to the Psalms when they

aren’t up to the theological niceties of

Paul or Isaiah.

Others love their musical qualities.

After all, the book of Psalms is

a collection of ancient hymns and

prayers. Though their tunes have

been lost in antiquity, their inspired

thoughts and imagery remain.

Personally, I have been impressed

by the frequent and sudden changes

of mind-set the psalmists experience

as they pray to God. It has confirmed

my own experience: The more desperate

my need, the more sudden

and powerful is God’s help.

Take, for instance, Psalm 13. The

first verse overflows with anguish:

“How long wilt Thou forget me, O

Lord? Forever? How long wilt Thou

hide Thy face from me?” Then the

last verse bursts out in thankfulness:

“I will sing unto the Lord because

He hath dealt bountifully with me.”

What happens between these two

lines? In four verses, the author

offers the secret to victorious prayer.

We see how reason takes over emotion

step by step until the psalmist

grasps the promise of God and the

reality of His protection.

You might have unknowingly

prayed this same prayer, something

like, “Lord, I am distressed and I

need Your help. Here’s the situation...

I need You to work right now.

Otherwise, this is what will happen...

But, I know You will protect

me. I know You won’t allow this to

happen. I choose to believe this. I

trust in You and in the salvation You

provide.” Fear is lost in faith, weakness

in strength, doubt in assurance.

Once you choose to trust in Him, to

align your will with His will, He will

change your very thoughts. Then,

peace will flow in, and strength to

wait upon His leading will come.

You see, God’s power does not transfer

from His hand to your hand or

from His feet to your feet. It transfers

from His mind to your mind.

FAVORITE PSALMS

I like all the Psalms, but a few have

become favorites. Psalm 16 makes a

great prayer in the morning to reaffirm

my identity in the Lord. Psalm 27

brings me security and rest in a world

of confusion and busyness. Psalm 37

encourages me when waiting upon

the Lord may seem to stretch my faith

beyond its limits. Psalm 42 helps me

to gather my strength after a defeat,

while Psalm 51 wipes away tears of

repentance. Psalm 139 reassures me

of God’s omnipresence; I claim its last

two verses as I grow in Him.

The Psalms have also given me a

correct view of the gospel. “Mercy

and truth are met together; righteousness

and peace have kissed each

other.” Psalm 85:10. Here I see the law

and the gospel joined in perfect union,

each a representation of God’s love.

The Psalms have taught me to

trust in God’s protection “under the

shadow of His wings” and to recognize

that I’m the “apple of His eye.”

Psalm 17:8. What more could you

and I expect from a loving Creator?v

Adriana Zoder was an editorial assistant at

Last Generation magazine.

16

Last Generation

■ SEARCH THE WORD

The Bible provides us with keys for having

meaningful communion with God.

IF

you have been a Christian for any length

of time, you have probably experienced

“dry” times in your devotional life with

God—you know, those times when prayer and Bible

study become mere “duties” to check off your list each

day. They begin to feel burdensome and laborious, and

it seems as though your prayers don’t reach beyond the

ceiling. Often, this attitude can develop from a misunderstanding

of what communion with God really is.

As we dig deeper into the Bible, we find a completely

different perspective on the spiritual disciplines.

That perspective is grounded in an understanding of

who God is and how He views us.

“...He wakeneth morning by

morning, He wakeneth mine

ear to hear as the learned.”

Isaiah 50:4

Vol. 30 No. 3 17

A GOD OF RELATIONSHIPS

1. How does God view each one of us? Jeremiah

31:3

our day-to-day lives? Genesis 5:22, 24;

Nehemiah 2:4

4. What are we invited to do in times of trial

and difficulty? 1 Peter 5:7

The Lord has loved us “with an everlasting love” and

drawn us with His “lovingkindness.” These phrases convey

relationship.

2. What kind of relationship does Jesus want

to have with us? Revelation 3:20

Jesus pictures Himself as knocking at the doors of our

hearts and desiring entrance in order to “sup” with us. In

Middle Eastern culture, dining together with someone in

his or her home was considered a gesture of closeness and

friendship; thus, Jesus utilizes this metaphor to emphasize

His desire for an intimate relationship with us.

How does Jesus describe eternal life? John 17:3

The encouragement to “pray without ceasing” does not

mean that we need to spend all day on our knees. The life

of Enoch helps us to recognize this fact—the Bible refers

to it as “walking” with God. In other words, we can send

up prayers to God as we go throughout our day, constantly

keeping Him close to our hearts and minds. Whether we

face joy, excitement, a crisis, or a challenging situation, we

can reach out to Him. The experience of Nehemiah provides

an excellent example of this kind of prayer when he sent a

plea of help to God while standing before King Artaxerxes.

He didn’t have time to go somewhere secluded and pray

aloud, but he turned to God in his heart. As we do the

same, prayer becomes a part of our lifestyle.

KEYS TO A DEEPER PRAYER LIFE

1. In what way can we make prayer a priority?

Psalm 5:3; Matthew 6:33

Knowing Jesus is where true eternal life begins. The

Greek word for “know” in this verse is ginosko, which

implies a deep and intimate knowledge of someone; it

means “to learn to know, come to know, get a knowledge

of, perceive, feel” or “to become acquainted with” (Thayer’s

Greek Definitions).

How then can we develop this kind of relationship with

God? We will look at a couple of ways.

TALKING WITH GOD

1. What is a key to sustaining one’s spiritual

life and remaining in the love of God?

Jude 1:20, 21

Seeking God first thing in the morning enables us to

order our priorities around Him.

2. What times of day did both David and

Daniel habitually seek God in prayer?

Psalm 55:17; Daniel 6:10

Both David and Daniel had a custom of praying three

times a day—morning, noon, and night. Setting aside times

of prayer, even if they are brief, will help us to maintain our

connection with God throughout the day.

3. Where is an ideal place for spending time in

prayer? Matthew 6:5, 6; see also Mark 1:35

2. What was Paul’s instruction to the

Thessalonians? 1 Thessalonians 5:17

3. How can we pray without ceasing in

18

Spending time in quietness and solitude helps remove

the distractions that can prevent quality communication

with God. This time spent with God in the mornings,

following the example of Jesus, will serve as our anchor

and our starting point for “praying without ceasing”

throughout the day.

Last Generation

4. With what kind of attitude should we seek

God? Jeremiah 29:13; Mark 11:24

A TWO-WAY STREET

1. What is the advice of the psalmist in Psalm

46:10?

Earthly relationships usually do not flourish with

halfhearted, strained efforts. The same applies to our

relationship with God. He longs to have us seek Him with

our whole hearts, believing that we will find Him and the

satisfying experience He wants to bestow upon us.

2. How do we hear God speaking back to us?

Psalm 119:97, 99

5. What are some principles for the content of

prayer found in the example that Jesus gave

to His disciples? Matthew 6:9–13

Verse 9

Verse 10

Verse 11 (compare with Matthew 4:4)

Verse 12

Verse 13

Jesus didn’t prescribe a ritual prayer to be repeated daily.

Instead, He gave principles upon which a heartfelt prayer can

be built. This prayer can include praising God for His holy

character and works, praying for His will to be done in our

lives and the lives of others, asking for physical and spiritual

needs, confessing sins, seeking strength to resist temptation,

and pouring out gratitude for all His blessings.

Prayer can often become a rushed activity, focused on

reciting one’s list of needs and requests. However, in seeking

to deepen our relationship with God, we must take the time

to hear what He has to say in return. This is why the Bible

admonishes us to pause and meditate on the Word of God,

for it is the way in which God can speak back to us. We can

actually incorporate Scripture passages into our prayers by

talking with God about the things that we are reading. Thus,

our communication with Him goes from being a one-sided

monologue to a reciprocal conversation.

COMMITMENT

Have you recognized a need for a deeper experience with

God? Do you long to have open communication with Him

in a way that you can share your heart with Him and sense

Him speaking to your heart? Today is an opportunity to

start afresh. Will you commit to opening your heart to God

through prayer and meditation on His Word each day?

Signed

Are you searching for

Bible answers to your

spiritual questions?

Ask for FREE Bible studies today!

Find answers to life’s perplexing questions from

God’s Word.

In the US write to: Redemption Ministries,

444 Hartland Oak Dr, Rapidan, VA, 22733 (We cannot

send Bible study guides to non-US addresses.)

Or, email: redemptionministries@hartland.edu

Vol. 30 No. 3 19

■ TELL OF HIS POWER

My older sister’s well-marked Bible helped me survive the Rwandan Genocide.

BY PHODIDAS NDAMYUMUGABE WITH JOY INYELE

This story is a reminder

that God still answers

prayers and walks with His

people even amid the worst

of situations. It summarizes

a larger story from the book

Preaching from the Grave,

Phodidas’s dramatic testimony

of how God protected

His own during one of the

most widespread slaughters

of all time—the Rwandan

Genocide of 1994. During

this horrific time, one man

refused to deceive others to

save his life and remained

transparent in his worship

of the true God. He chose

to honor God by faithfulness

to biblical principles

through the most extreme

circumstances.

PREPARED FOR THE CRISIS

Being the youngest of eight

siblings, I was the center of my

family’s affections. Of all of us, one

of my sisters seemed to love God

most. She had read her Bible from

cover to cover and underlined all

her favorite verses. When she got

married, she announced that she

had a surprise gift for me.

And what was it? Her

old, underlined Bible! I

accepted it since I didn’t

own a Bible.

It was the best gift

I have ever received! I

read it as if it were an

assignment and kept up my sister’s

habit of highlighting favorite

verses. Bible stories like Elijah’s and

Daniel’s inspired my youthful zeal.

In the book of Proverbs, I found a

ceaseless fountain of wisdom. But

most precious of all, I found that

I could claim Bible promises in

prayer, and God answered every

time! I had discovered a secure

place to rivet the core of my young

life: my Bible and prayer. When the

genocide broke upon my country

Rwanda, the combination of my

marked Bible and a reflex to pray

was the rudder steering me through

that experience.

On April 6, 1994, our president

was assassinated. At the same time,

the national radio announced a

curfew. Then, shootings intensified,

God had deeper lessons of

trust to teach me than I

could have ever imagined.

houses were ransacked, and roadblocks

were set up on every street

where the militia inspected IDs.

If anyone’s ID stated “Tutsi,” that

was his death sentence. (The minority

ethnic group hunted by Hutu

extremists during the Rwandan

genocide.) And mine did.

In just a week, Rwanda’s capital

was turned on its head. My neighborhood

in one of the city’s suburbs

was infested with blood-thirsty

20

Last Generation

and pillaging militia. Thousands of

Tutsis and some Hutus were killed.

There were hardly any hideouts for

Tutsis. My Hutu friends Pierre and

Jules suggested that we flee to their

home village in another province

with the hope of finding refuge

with their families. The challenge

was that we had to pass through

the heart of the city to get there.

Realizing that my Tutsi ID would

complicate the transit, Pierre suggested

that I tear it up and pose as

a Hutu whenever I came to a roadblock.

But I refused to submit to the

slightest disposition to lie about my

identity. I believed God could save

me from any situation according to

His will if I maintained my integrity.

When Pierre realized that I

wouldn’t buckle and would instead

trust God for protection, he looked

into my eyes and said, “If you have

that kind of faith, then let’s go!”

PRAYER AT EVERY STEP

As the militia demanded my

ID at the first few roadblocks, my

prayer was, “Oh Lord, close their

eyes!” And He did. Some were distracted

just in time to pass over my

ID; another one had shaky hands

and couldn’t read it. I thought this

was the magic prayer that would

always work, so I went on with

confidence. But God had deeper

lessons of trust to teach me.

At the next roadblock, the first

militiaman who saw me asked for

my identification.

“Are you a Tutsi?” he whispered.

His countenance sprinkled with

wonder that I could still be surviving

with such a dangerous ID, he

pressed the card back into my hand

and urged, “Disappear!”

Just then, a truck full of militiamen

pulled over. He went ahead

and negotiated with the driver

to give us a ride over some roadblocks.

Beyond closing eyes, God

was showing me that He could

allow a militiaman to know who I

was and use him to protect me in a

truck full of weapon-laden militia.

Leaving the truck, we arrived at

a roadblock in the center of Kigali.

I said that same prayer as I handed

over my ID. This time, God did not

close any eyes.

“We have found one!” the man

shouted.

Fierce men surrounded me and

ordered me to lie down next to

someone they had just killed. I

refused because I didn’t want to

die. Suddenly, a huge influx of

refugees came in, and all the militia

went away to inspect them. I stood

there among the dead, praying at

every breath.

Then, one militiaman saw me and

said loudly, “We did not kill that

boy.” He ran toward me, waving

his long knife. I closed my eyes and

prayed, “Lord, stop him in Jesus’

name!” I opened my eyes just in time

to see him make a U-turn! Two more

times, the same drama reoccurred:

I said the same prayer, and God

answered in the same way. I became

confident that God was in control.

A fourth militiaman noticed

I was still standing there and

charged toward me. I said that

prayer twice, but he kept coming.

When I opened my eyes the second

time, he was right in front of me

with the tip of his knife pointed at

my face. He gazed into my eyes,

somewhat bewildered. After a

searching pause, he asked, “Uri

muntu ki?” (“What kind of person

are you?”)

“I am a man of God,” I answered.

“If you are a man of God, I will

get you your ID so that you can

go.” He went and tried to convince

his colleagues to release my card,

but to no avail. After some time,

their commander called for me, but

again, he seemed distracted. Before

he could focus his attention on me,

the militiaman came behind me

and complained in a rather frustrated

tone, “If you are a man of

God, why don’t you ask for your

ID and leave?”

At this, their commander

shouted at them to give me my

ID and release me. I went away

acknowledging that even after

everyone knew that I was a Tutsi,

God remained mighty to save!

We got to Pierre’s village on

April 15 th . There, we enjoyed

peace for a few days, and I

had opportunities to share

my testimony at surrounding

churches. Joel, another Tutsi

Fierce men surrounded

me and ordered me to lie

down next to someone

they had just killed. I

refused because I didn’t

want to die.

Vol. 30 No. 3 21

man seeking refuge at Jules’ home,

joined us. Unfortunately, the newly

installed president visited the area,

and hell broke loose again. All

Hutus were warned against hiding

Tutsis at the risk of the death of their

whole families; so at nightfall, Jules’

father took Joel and I to some nearby

bushes, prayed for us, and left.

COLORS IN MY BIBLE

At around 10:00am the next day,

I heard people approaching our

hideout and a dog barking. My eyes

met with that of the hunting dog

that neither moved nor kept quiet

until we surrendered to his masters.

We had been found!

In preparing to kill Joel and me,

our captors took us to a piece of

property and asked me to dig a

grave for both of us. I placed my

Bible on the graveside and began to

dig. I pleaded with God to do something

before the grave was ready.

Suddenly, one of the killers

picked up my Bible and started to

flip through its pages.

“What do these colors mean?” he

asked. “Why are they different?”

“Those are my favorite verses,” I

responded.

He started to pay more attention

to the verses and seemed to be

reflecting on what he read. Then, he

spoke up again. “Brother,” he said

sincerely. “Before you die, please

give me this Bible.”

“You may have it,” I replied.

After this, he offered to help me

dig the grave and in no time, it was

deep enough. But another killer protested,

“Why should we bury these

strangers in our field? Let them dig

another grave on government property

along the main road.”

So they used the grave for another

Tutsi who had been killed just before

they found us. But before burying

him, they prayed, “Mary, mother of

Jesus, receive him!” At these words,

my focus completely shifted from

my safety. I started praying for an

opportunity to tell them about God

and the truth about death.

Before digging my second grave,

I asked for my Bible and requested

to say a word to my captors. I

preached for about 20 minutes on

Ecclesiastes 9:5 and 2 Peter 2:9, 10.

At the end, there was much weeping,

commotion, and consultation.

When I offered to start digging

again, they unanimously decided to

release us. In fact, the commander

of the militia group ordered two of

the militiamen to take us to their

house where they served us meals

and provided us shelter for the

night before ousting us the next day

at the threat of other militia groups.

At the brink of the grave, God

had waged war in the hearts of the

killers by the sword of His Word.

I learned that it was not by power,

nor by might, but by God’s Spirit

that I had been delivered. Zech. 4:6.

Back at Jules’ home, we found

another thicket of bushes nearby

where we hid for the next 34 days.

Jules faithfully brought us food

every night. When I became sick

and despondent from our miserable

existence, God turned my

mind to my Bible. I spent every

waking moment either meditating

on the Word or praying. After a

weeklong season of fasting for

deliverance, a new incoming army

finally liberated the country from

the clutches of the Hutu extremists.

As we breathed the air of freedom

again and pondered our days in the

bushes, I could admit that though

our salvation tarried, the Lord had

proved faithful to the end!

Looking back, I see how God

progressively led me into a deeper

experience of His saving ways. I

learned that He never runs out of

options. He has a thousand ways

to answer our prayers and to let us

know that we are the apple of His

eye. Zech. 2:8.v

Dr. Phodidas Ndamyumugabe is a survivor of

the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. He currently

teaches in the theology department at Weimar

College in California where he lives with his

family. As an evangelist and church planter, Dr.

Phodidas’ main interest is preparing people

for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Joy

Inyele works as an editorial assistant for Last

Generation magazine.

Before digging the second grave,

I asked for my Bible and requested

to say a word to my captors.

22

Last Generation

■ MILESTONES

Before making his request to Artaxerxes

for help in rebuilding the walls of

Jerusalem, Nehemiah spent months

praying to Jehovah.

BY ELLEN G. WHITE

Nehemiah, one of the Hebrew exiles, occupied a

position of influence and honor in the Persian

court. As cupbearer to the king, he was admitted

freely to the royal presence. By virtue of his position and

because of his abilities and fidelity, he had become the

monarch’s friend and counselor. The recipient of royal

favor, though surrounded by pomp and splendor, did

not forget his God nor his people. With deepest interest

his heart turned toward Jerusalem; his hopes and joys

were bound up with her prosperity. Through this man,

prepared by his residence in the Persian court for the

work to which he was to be called, God purposed to

bring blessing to His people in the land of their fathers.

By messengers from Judea the Hebrew patriot learned

that days of trial had come to Jerusalem, the chosen

city. The returned exiles were suffering affliction and

reproach. The temple and portions of the city had been

rebuilt; but the work of restoration was hindered, the

temple services were disturbed, and the people kept in

constant alarm by the fact that the walls of the city were

still largely in ruins.

NEHEMIAH’S AGONY

Overwhelmed with sorrow, Nehemiah could

neither eat nor drink; he “wept, and mourned certain

days, and fasted.” In his grief he turned to the Divine

Helper. “I ... prayed,” he said, “before the God

of heaven.” Faithfully he made confession

of his sins and the sins of his people.

He pleaded that God would maintain the

cause of Israel, restore their courage and strength,

and help them to build up the waste places of Judah.

Vol. 30 No. 3 23

■ FEATURE

As Nehemiah prayed, his faith and courage grew

strong. His mouth was filled with holy arguments. He

pointed to the dishonor that would be cast upon God if

His people, now that they had returned to Him, should

be left in weakness and oppression; and he urged the

Lord to bring to pass His promise: “If ye turn unto Me,

and keep My Commandments, and do them; though

there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of

the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will

bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set My

name there.” Neh. 1:9. This promise had been given to

Israel through Moses before they had entered Canaan,

and during the centuries it had stood unchanged (Deut.

4:29-31). God’s people had now returned to Him in penitence

and faith, and His promise would not fail.

A NEW PURPOSE

Nehemiah had often poured out his soul in behalf of

his people. But now as he prayed, a holy purpose formed

in his mind. He resolved that if he could obtain the consent

of the king and the necessary aid in procuring implements

and material, he would himself undertake the task

of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem and restoring Israel’s

national strength. And he asked the Lord to grant him

favor in the sight of

the king that this plan

might be carried out.

“Prosper, I pray Thee,

Thy servant this day,”

he entreated, “and

grant him mercy in the

sight of this man.”

Four months

Nehemiah waited for a favorable opportunity to present

his request to the king. During this time, though his heart

was heavy with grief, he endeavored to bear himself with

cheerfulness in the royal presence. In those halls of luxury

and splendor, all must appear light-hearted and happy.

Distress must not cast its shadow over the countenance

of any attendant of royalty. But in Nehemiah’s seasons of

retirement, concealed from human sight, many were the

prayers, the confessions, the tears, heard and witnessed by

God and angels.

THE KING’S INQUIRY

At length the sorrow that burdened the patriot’s

heart could no longer be concealed. Sleepless nights and

care-filled days left their trace upon his countenance. The

king, jealous for his own safety, was accustomed to read

countenances and to penetrate disguises, and he saw

that some secret trouble was preying upon his cupbearer.

“Why is thy countenance sad,” he inquired, “seeing thou

art not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.”

The question filled Nehemiah with apprehension.

Would not the king be angry to hear that while outwardly

engaged in his service, the courtier’s thoughts

had been far away with his afflicted people? Would

not the offender’s life be forfeited? His cherished plan

for restoring the strength of Jerusalem—was it about

to be overthrown? “Then,” he writes, “I was very sore

afraid.” With trembling lips and tearful eyes he revealed

the cause of his sorrow. “Let the king live forever,” he

answered. “Why should not my countenance be sad,

when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchers, lieth

waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?”

A QUICK PLEA TO HEAVEN

The recital of Jerusalem’s condition awakened

the sympathy of the monarch without arousing his

prejudices. Another question gave the opportunity for

which Nehemiah had long waited: “For what dost thou

make request?” But the man of God did not venture to

reply till he had sought direction from One higher than

Artaxerxes. He had a sacred trust to fulfill in which he

required help from the king; and he realized that much

depended upon his presenting the matter in such a way

as to win his approval and enlist his aid. “I prayed,”

he said, “to the God of heaven.” In that brief prayer

Nehemiah pressed into the presence of the King of kings

and won to his side a power that can turn hearts as the

rivers of waters are turned.

To pray as

In every circumstance, we may

find help in the unfailing love and

power of a covenant-keeping God.

Nehemiah prayed in

his hour of need is a

resource at the command

of the Christian

under circumstances

when other forms

of prayer may be

impossible. Toilers in

the busy walks of life, who are crowded and almost overwhelmed

with perplexity, can send up a petition to God

for divine guidance. Travelers by sea and land, when

threatened with some great danger, can thus commit

themselves to Heaven’s protection. In times of sudden

difficulty or peril the heart may send up its cry for help to

One who has pledged Himself to come to the aid of His

faithful, believing ones whenever they call upon Him.

In every circumstance, under every condition, the soul

weighed down with grief and care or fiercely assailed by

temptation may find assurance, support, and succor in

the unfailing love and power of a covenant-keeping God.

Nehemiah, in that brief moment of prayer to the King

of kings, gathered courage to tell Artaxerxes of his desire

to be released for a time from his duties at the court,

and he asked for authority to build up the waste places

of Jerusalem and to make it once more a strong and

defensed city. Momentous results to the Jewish nation

hung upon this request. “And,” Nehemiah declares, “the

king granted me, according to the good hand of my God

upon me.”v

Excerpted from Patriarchs and Prophets, “A Man of Opportunity,” by

Ellen G. White.

24

Last Generation

■ FAMILY OF GOD

Now a mother myself, I reflect on the

ways in which my own parents led me

to a personal relationship with God.

BY ABIGAIL DUMAN

From the tender age of five, my

heart responded to the story of

salvation. I would exasperate

my little friend next door with Bible

story retellings, revel in church

each week, and face every scary

dark closet with “Jesus Loves Me.”

Though my growing-up years were

marked with learning moments

and stumbling, I always knew that I

wanted to follow God.

I like to look back on my childhood

and ponder what my parents

did to nurture my love for the Savior.

Was it my mother’s frequent talk of

Jesus as the children’s friend? Was it

my dad’s sincerity as he recounted

Bible stories at bedtime? Could it

have been the warm embraces and

smiles of people who greeted me at

church each week? These things and

more were factors that encouraged

my love for God.

Now, as a young mother myself,

I long to foster a love for God in my

own child and protect him from

the bombardment of dark lies that

young people face in our society—

but I cannot keep him in a sterile

bubble. The only sure safeguard for

his salvation is a personal relationship

with the Savior.

Every individual has the choice

to accept or reject truth. Thus, every

parent runs the risk that his or her

child will choose a wrong path, and

God Himself understands this heartache.

As parents, our responsibility

is to do our best to uplift Christ and

encourage our children in the path

of life. If they maintain a relationship

with Christ, He will also guide them

through the ups and downs of childhood.

He will influence them during

the challenging teenage years. What

a safeguard! How then do we as

parents encourage our little ones to

experience a personal relationship

with Christ?

1. PROTECT

My mother and sister were visiting

a family in our locality when the

family’s daughter invited my sister

up to her bedroom. My mother,

unfamiliar with the girl and careful

to guard her own daughter’s innocence,

followed them to the room.

When the girl realized that an adult

planned to be present, she locked

eyes with my mom. “You can go

now,” she stared. As you can guess,

that acquaintance never became

something more.

My parents were as careful as they

could be to protect us from danger.

They combined prayer with action

by setting boundaries and guarding

our associations and influences from

media. We weren’t allowed to spend

time with friends behind closed

doors or go to sleepovers. Although

this may sound radical, it is often a

necessity in today’s society if parents

want to safeguard their children

from physical, emotional, and spiritual

harm.

Protecting your child requires

intentionality. Sometimes, it requires

sacrifice—especially when we would

rather be talking with our friends

than chasing around the younger

generation. While we cannot avoid

all adverse situations, as guardians

we should do everything in our

power to protect our children from

harmful situations.

2. MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIP

Family rules become bondage

without relationship. Through

Scripture we can see that God

yearns for a deeply personal relationship

with each one of us. He

does not ask us to keep His commandments

out of a mere legal

obligation. In fact, we can only

truly keep His commandments

out of love.

Vol. 30 No. 3 25

The same goes for the parentchild

relationship. Aim for more

than a form of obedience: Seek

to win the heart. Take the time

to reason with your children, to

explain the principles behind rules,

and show genuine interest in their

young lives.

After a long day of work, my dad

often pushed aside a myriad of other

duties to make his children a priority.

Because my parents took time to

foster a loving relationship with me,

I felt more inclined to listen to what

they had to say. Through their reflection

of God’s love, I saw a clearer

picture of my heavenly Father’s care.

3. BE CONSISTENT

Light streamed through the

open bedroom door as my mother

approached my bed one day.

“Honey, I want to apologize for

being impatient today. By God’s

grace, I’ll do better in the future.”

My young heart felt touched and

impressed by my mother’s humility.

And when she asked me to say

sorry to my sister the next week for

a misdemeanor, I remembered my

mother’s example.

If we as parents want our children

to submit themselves to God’s will,

we ought to live subject to it as well.

Be dependably consistent to avoid

double standards. The effective

parent-witness is a consistent one.

4. CONNECT WITH CHRIST

My earliest recollection is of a

song. The rocking chair creaked

as my mother sang “Sweet, Sweet

Jesus.” But she not only sang of

Jesus’ love; she also read her Bible

every morning. I saw God’s love in

action through both of my parents,

and because of that, I wanted the

same peace and happiness.

Can your children see the Holy

Spirit working in your life? Do you

walk in humility and personal conviction?

Do you love to spend time in

God’s Word? Is your conversation on

high and holy things? We can’t expect

our children to find Christianity

appealing if we ourselves don’t think

it’s attractive. Be the example to your

children of who you want them to be.

My siblings are teenagers and

young adults now. Not all of them

have committed themselves to God

and developed a personal relationship

with Him, but our parents

have made the path to life clear and

distinct from the rest of the world.

Whatever is ultimately decided by

my siblings, I believe that my parents

have done their duty.

As I look down at my own child,

I remind myself that everyone is

individually accountable to God for

his or her choices. No parent is perfect,

and even our perfect heavenly

Father suffered the pain of rebellion

due to freedom of choice. Likewise,

I cannot force my child’s choice or

manufacture his relationship with the

Father. This is a responsibility that

rests on his young shoulders. I may

do everything right but still suffer the

heartbreak of watching a child wander

from the faith. It is the sad reality

of living in a sinful world where a

spiritual battle wages for every soul.

No matter what choices our

children make, they will not be

able to completely forget God. The

principles they were led to walk by

in their younger years will follow

them. Their childhood will serve

as a constant witness to a love that

continues to draw them.

For now, I can vow to do all in my

power to present Christ as the loving

Father that He is. I can encourage

and nurture my son’s relationship

with God by taking up my parental

responsibility to protect and connect

with him, reflecting the parent-child

relationship that God has with us.

If you are a parent, put these

principles into practice. Bathe your

children in prayer and keep your

conscience clear before God. Heaven

will be here soon, and by His grace,

your children will stand before the

throne with you.v

Abigail Duman is a mother and wife who lives

in West Virginia, where she enjoys freelance

writing and spending time with her husband

Chris and son Luke.

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26

Last Generation

VITAMIN D IS MORE

EFFECTIVE THAN FLU

VACCINE

A national representative study

reported by Time magazine has shown

that vitamin D supplementation could

prevent more than 3.25 million cases

of the cold and flu each year in the

UK alone! This is due to the fact that

the activation of vitamin D receptors

is indispensable to the work of germfighting

T cells, especially those that

combat respiratory infections.

Among the 11,000 participants of

the study, those with significant vitamin

D deficiencies (blood levels below 10 ng/

mL) “cut their risk of respiratory infection

in half” by taking a supplement.

Those with higher vitamin D levels

had 10 percent reduction in risk,

“which is about equal to the protective

effect of the injectable flu vaccine.”

Spending moderate amounts of

time in the sun is the best way to

obtain adequate amounts of vitamin

D 3

. However, individuals who have

low vitamin D levels and aren’t able

to obtain enough sun exposure may

need to supplement in order to reach

a healthy baseline. Getting vitamin D

levels checked once or twice a year can

help determine one’s particular need.

“Study: Vitamin D Is More Effective

Than Flu Vaccine,” Health Impact

News, healthimpactnews.com, March

1, 2017.

THE SIMPLE DUTCH

CURE FOR STRESS

Uitwaaien, a Dutch word meaning

“outblowing,” represents a century-old

pastime in the Netherlands where

locals “spend time in the wind” for its

rejuvenating psychological effects.

Researchers report that even five

minutes walking, cycling, or farming in

breezy natural settings will significantly

boost one’s mental well-being.

Nature walks have been linked

to reduced levels of depression,

perceived stress, negative emotions,

and headaches, while improving

immune function and anticancer

protein production. According to a

Japanese research team, the healthful

benefits come from inhaling phytoncides—antimicrobial

substances

released by trees into the air.

Engaging fully in “blue spaces,”

such as windy beaches, also leads to

a temporary deactivation of a part of

our prefrontal cortex, allowing us to

unwind and de-stress.

Whatever your lifestyle, find creative

ways to fit in some uitwaaien time.

Great rewards await your body, mind,

and soul! “The Simple Dutch Cure for

Stress,” Nautilus, nautil.us, Nov. 9, 2019.

LIFESAVING FIBER—ARE

YOU EATING ENOUGH?

A major study published in the

Lancet medical journal has reminded

us once again of the huge health

benefits of dietary fiber. These include

decreasing the risk of lifelong diseases

such as type 2 diabetes and colon

cancer, as well as lowering weight,

blood pressure, and cholesterol levels.

Beyond preventing constipation, it also

promotes a feeling of satiety and

feeds the beneficial bacteria

in the colon.

Good sources of fiber

include fruits and vegetables,

whole grain products, and legumes, as

well as nuts and seeds. “The lifesaving

food 90% aren’t eating enough of,” BBC

News, bbc.com, Jan. 11, 2019.

WHY VACATIONS MATTER

FOR YOUR HEALTH

Did you know that January 30 th

is “National Plan a Vacation Day”?

But even with this day, 54 percent of

American workers still don’t use their

vacation days.

The 1992 Framingham Heart Study

found that the risk for heart attack

shot up by 30 percent in men and 50

percent in women who don’t take

vacations. This means that vacations

have significant protective benefits for

the body.

Vacations also impact mental

health. In fact, far from negatively

affecting business, generous vacations

have been found to actually heighten

workers’ productivity. Those who don’t

take time off are often sicker, stressed,

more anxious, and depressed. But by

creating systems that support a culture

of vacation, employers actually work at

an advantage!

So, let’s nurture a vacation habit.

Though it will take careful planning to

prioritize the time off, vacation time

should be viewed as a non-negotiable

part of health care. “Why vacations

matter for your health,” CNN, cnn.com,

Jan. 30, 2018.

Vol. 30 No. 3 27

A penetrating look at current events in light of Bible prophecy

WATER SOURCES

CONTAMINATED BY

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Residues of pharmaceutical

drugs are being found in both

surface and underground freshwater

sources throughout the

world according to a report from

the Organization of Economic

Cooperation and Development

(OECD). Some of the highest levels

of pollution have been found in

China, India, Israel, South Korea,

and the United States.

This problem has resulted from

the increased use of drugs in

medicine and in agriculture. Even

when ingested by humans or animals,

much of pharmaceuticals are

excreted back into the environment

through sewage used for fertilization

of fields. Furthermore, large

quantities of unused drugs are

disposed of—as much as “one third

of the four billion drugs prescribed

each year” in the US!

What are some of the risks that

pharmaceutical pollution poses? For

one, about ten percent of pharmaceuticals

are believed to be “potentially

harmful to the environment.” This

ten percent may include antibiotics,

hormones, antidepressants, and even

painkillers. Researchers, though,

have yet to understand in greater

detail what effects these medications

may have on the environment.

The increasing prevalence

of drugs in the environment

may have an even more

serious impact on humans,

however, as they may

promote the development

of drug-resistant bacteria.

Currently, about 700,000

deaths occur each year in

the US due to drug-resistant infections,

but this number is estimated

to increase up to 10 million by 2050!

The Bible has warned us of an

increase in pestilences—contagious

or infectious epidemic diseases— in

the world at the end of time. Matt.

24:7. Pharmaceutical pollution

may be contributing to the fulfillment

of this prophecy as it brings

about an increase in drug-resistant

infections. “Medicines Pose Global

Environmental Risk, Experts Warn,” Phys.

org, www.phys.org, Nov. 14, 2019.

CHINA UNDER INVESTIGATION

FOR FORCED HARVESTING OF

HUMAN ORGANS

The Chinese government has been

accused of harvesting the organs

of “prisoners of conscience”—individuals

who have been imprisoned

because of religious beliefs that differed

from the Communist party. The

two religious minorities that have

been specifically targeted and persecuted

by the Chinese government

are the Uighur Muslims and those

practicing Falun Gong (a Buddhistbased

spiritual practice).

Over the past year and a half, the

China Tribunal, a group sponsored

by the International Coalition to

End Transplant Abuse in China,

has been investigating these claims.

They have found evidence that

these prisoners of conscience were

being killed as various human

organs were needed. The extent of

the brutality was such that sometimes

the people were still alive

when their organs were being harvested.

One lawyer for the China

Tribunal believes that hundreds of

thousands have been victims to this

terrible breach of human rights.

China denies all the accusations

and claims that it hasn’t harvested

the organs of executed prisoners

since 2015. However, the Tribunal

provides evidence to the contrary. For

one, the short waiting times for organ

transplants in Chinese hospitals were

not feasible unless human organs

had been available on demand. Other

forms of evidence include testimonies

from survivors and surgeons

that were previously involved.

Without a doubt, the actions of

the Chinese government present

an abuse of human rights of the

highest magnitude. As the Chinese

government has recently begun

cracking down on Christians, could

they also become victims of similar

abuse? “China Is Harvesting Thousands

of Human Organs…” Business Insider,

businessinsider.com, Sept. 25, 2019.

US HOSPITALS REPORT

INCREASED SEXUAL ABUSE

ADMISSIONS

A study from St. Louis University

showed that the number of children

being admitted to US emergency

rooms due to sexual abuse has

significantly increased within a sixyear

time frame. In 2010, the number

was 5,138, but it reached 8,818 in

2016. Many of these children were

girls and nearly half of them were

between the ages of 12 and 17.

28

Last Generation

“What shall be the sign of Thy coming,

and of the end of the world?” Matthew 24:3

What has caused the increase?

Researchers speculate that doctors

have become more educated to look

for and notice signs of sexual abuse.

In addition, experts admit that the

numbers may also indicate that sex

trafficking of teen girls is increasing

in the US. In fact, UN investigations

for such cases have “hit a 13-year

high.” One expert commented that

this evil trade is the “nation’s fastest

growing form of organized crime.”

Sadly, the sex trafficking industry

is not without its dreadful

effects upon the physical health

of children, increasing their risk

of HIV and obesity. Furthermore,

many children must deal with the

long-term effects on their mental

and emotional health in the form

of an increased risk for depression

and schizophrenia. Being raped

as a child also has been shown to

increase the chance of being raped

again in the first year of college.

Though we cannot clearly link sex

trafficking with the increased emergency

room admissions for sexual

abuse, the statistic is still a strong indicator

of the violence and evil in these

last days. The Bible speaks of the end

times being similar to the days of Lot,

in which the men of Sodom wanted

to commit acts of sexual abuse against

the city’s visitors. Without a doubt,

iniquity abounds, and to a great

extent true love has grown cold. Matt.

24:12. “Rate of Children Being Admitted

to US Emergency Rooms for Sexual

Abuse…” DailyMail.com, www.dailymail.

co.uk, Nov. 4, 2019.

STUDENTS WHO ACCEPT

THEIR BIOLOGICAL GENDER

LOSE IN BATHROOM WARS

The Palatine Township

High School District

(Illinois) recently voted

to allow transgender students

to use school locker

rooms and bathrooms

according to the gender

with which they identify.

Many are pleased

with the decision. The

school’s district superintendent

believes that

this decision shows

that the school has advanced in its

“understanding and acceptance

of transgender identity.” A former

transgender student, a biological

male, had previously sued the

school district for requiring “her”

to change in a separate room.

Thus, “she” saw this approval

as a “huge step forward and an

absolute win.”

Others expressed frustration about

the new policy. One female high

school student who is a swimmer and

uses the locker to change for swim

meets was especially concerned about

her privacy. “I do not want to see a

transgender student naked in locker

rooms, [and] I do not want a transgender

student to see me naked in locker

rooms,” she expressed. Many parents

have also put in requests for privacy

accommodations for their children

who are uncomfortable with this

new arrangement.

As the transgender movement

continues to push its agenda in

the name of “understanding and

acceptance,” it is infringing upon

the rights of those individuals

who accept their biological gender.

“Palatine School District Approves

Full Bathroom Rights…”

National Public Radio, npr.

org, Nov. 15, 2019.

Vol. 30 No. 3 29

■ WINDOWS ON THE CREATOR

If God so carefully and perfectly designed

this garden of the sea, how much more

has He lovingly planned our lives?

BY RABEKAH RICE

Come with me, and let’s go swimming. The ocean is

beautiful today, a sparkling blue in the bright sunshine

overhead. Here’s a mask so you can clearly

see what’s down there. We plunge into the gentle waves

and make our way to the reef not far from shore. The water

is shallow; be careful not to get caught on the coral. We

float above the magnificent living structures, gazing at the

beauties of the underwater garden. Some of the corals are

perfectly round with intricate, symmetrical designs; some

are long and skinny like brightly colored fingers; some are

incredibly delicate like spider webs; and others are strong

and appear like sculptures of the finest handiwork.

We continue on and begin to see more wonders in

this garden of the sea. The fish, bright and colorful, zip

around us as we swim, flashing reflected sunbeams

like sparkling gems. Some are friendly, while others are

cautious. The zebra-striped fish are the boldest, coming

close to investigate these queer visitors in their salty, blue

home. The clown fish are more shy and play hide-andseek

with us among the gently waving anemones.

As we swim and float and watch and wonder at the

beauties hidden under the shining waves, I remember

that verse in the Bible where God says, “Thus saith the

Lord, the heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.”

Isa. 66:1. And I smile to myself and think, If heaven

is God’s throne, and earth is His footstool, then this must be

His aquarium.

It is God’s hand that placed each coral in its place—no

human hand arranged this lovely garden. It was God’s

mind that thought up each different fish and sea creature,

designing their varied beauties and oddities and placing

them in a perfect environment to suit their needs—no

human mind could have planned such perfection. I think

God enjoys His aquarium. I sure do! I’m sure He knows

each and every fish just like He knows each and every

sparrow. Luke 12:6.

As we swim some more and I contemplate these

thoughts (I’ll have to tell you later because you won’t

understand if I talk underwater), I think of how good God

is. If He cared so much to precisely and perfectly plan

this garden of the sea, to set everything in its place and

give a home to the creatures in it, how much more does

He care for us, His children who are created in His own

image? How much more has He so carefully and lovingly

planned our lives? The little fish depend upon their

Creator day by day. They trust that God will take care of

them and do what’s best for them; they wait upon Him to

provide for their needs. Psalm 104:25–28. And as I watch

the happy creatures, I realize how many times I’ve failed

to depend on God for my daily needs! How many times

I’ve distrusted His love! And how much happiness I’ve

missed out on! Yet He calls us, saying, “Look at the fishes

of the sea and let them teach thee.” Job 12:8. So I shall.

This is my lesson from our adventures in God’s

aquarium. You’ll have to tell me yours when we get back

to shore.v

Rabekah Rice is a student midwife with a passion for foreign mission

work. She wrote this article in between “catching” babies in the

Philippines.

30

Last Generation

■ THE LAST WORD

The problem with stress is that many of us try to

handle trials, tragedies, and trauma in our own strength.

just can’t handle this!” I don’t know how many

times those words have run through my mind as

I’ve faced stressful situations. Overwhelmed by

a pile of unorganized duties, I would find myself unable

to start on any of them and ready to break! I’m sure my

blood pressure shot up, and my heart rate accelerated,

too! And God forbid that I would be near to one of my

loved ones who would become an involuntary target of

my frustration. I needed an outlet or some way of escape.

I wanted to hide, to crawl in bed and sleep away the

stress, or zone out on social media—anything to help me

forget for a while what I felt I couldn’t control.

Other times, the stressors have been larger, such as a

difficult job or an ongoing family crisis. Though I would

not necessarily crash in a single moment of stress, these

experiences slowly drained away my physical and emotional

resources, leaving me with little left to bless others.

Perhaps you can relate to my stress crises, or maybe

you have experienced the long-term drain of challenging

life circumstances. Unfortunately, stress is prevalent in

our society, maybe more than ever before as people face

the constant demands of a hectic lifestyle. At the same

time, our sinful world has done a thorough job of riddling

our lives with pain and brokenness, whether through

divorce, broken homes, abuse, or other tragedies.

Regardless of the types of stressors we face, we all recognize

the need for solutions greater than what we can

provide for ourselves. We need something that allows us

to bounce back in difficult moments and trying circumstances.

You know—the determination that enabled Nick

Vujicic to live a meaningful life despite having no arms or

legs; the faith that led Fanny Crosby to inspire thousands

through beautiful lyrics though she was blind from

infancy; or the grace that allowed concentration camp

survivor Corrie Ten Boom to forgive the guard who

severely mistreated her and her beloved sister Betsy.

We are in need of something that will empower us, not

merely in the day-to-day stressors but also in the coming

crisis. Living in the last days of earth’s history, we will

inevitably face the pressures of persecution. How will we

respond when we are mistreated, hated, and betrayed for

following God? Matt. 24:9, 10. How can we be victorious

when facing some of the most strenuous circumstances?

The answer is found in a God-given resilience. I

have learned that though I may wish for stressors to be

removed from my life, God is actually in the business of

teaching me how to handle them. I may not have control

over the stressor, but I can choose what I do with it. He

calls me to place everything that burdens me in His loving

hands, allowing Him to give me His perfect peace.

Isa. 26:3. Thus, I learn to be resilient with His help.

As I write this, I recognize that following Christ does

not make my life stress-free. However, it gives me a

different perspective. On my own, I can’t handle the

stressors that come my way; but I’m learning to trust the

One who can!

How about you?

Sabrina Petersen

Associate Editor

Managing Editor Betsy Mayer | Associate Editor Sabrina Petersen | Editorial Assistants and Copyeditors Enos Kewasu, Joy Inyele, Katie LeBlanc,

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Vol. 30 No. 3 | Copyright © 2020 March/April Issue | Cover: © Shutterstock.com | Photo credits: p. 21 © iStockPhoto.com; pp. 3, 4, 5, 6 © Sermonview.com; pp. 2, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14,

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Vol. 30 No. 3 31

Last Generation Ministries

444 Hartland Oak Dr

Rapidan, VA 22733

www.lastgen.net

For, lo, the winter is past,

the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth;

the time of the singing of birds is come,

and the voice of the turtle dove

is heard in our land.

Song of Solomon 2:11, 12

Last Generation: Resilience

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