Pastor Fibion serves Forgotten Voices as Spiritual Ministry Advisor. He was our former Zimbabwe Director, overseeing local partnerships with our African church partners. In his role, Fibion shares a weekly devotion with the Forgotten Voices family. Please enjoy this reflection from a pastor with a deep passion for bringing others to the heart of God.

3.4.13 – Encouragement for a suffering world

After teaching a Sunday school lesson on the topic “God is in charge,” I encouraged people to write a story explaining the meaning of Christmas to a suffering world.  Rosina is one of the two young people who presented hers. She was part of our Children’s Ministry in her younger years and has recently rejoined the church as a young adult. As a child, her ability to master scripture verses was amazing. Pray that she will develop in her faith. I’m pleased to share with you below Rosina’s reflections to encourage those who are suffering.

“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel which means ‘God with us’ [Matthew 1:23].  

On Christmas day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.   This is the day when God showed His love to this world by giving his only Son – Immanuel.    So each and every time we celebrate Christmas we should know that it comes with Good News – good news especially to the suffering world.   It is a time to remind everyone that God is with us.   No matter the suffering you might be in, don’t run away from it.   You have to embrace it.   Jesus was brought into this world to suffer for our iniquities.   He never ran away from his suffering because he knew that His Father was, is and will be always be with Him.   King Herod tried to kill Jesus as a small baby, but did he succeed?   The same applies to us.  

Suffering may discourage us and destroy our faith if we don’t focus on the meaning of Christ’s coming into this world – ‘God with us’.   Christmas is therefore there to remind us that God is with us.  

Whatever situation you might be in, perhaps it is the loss of a loved one, just know that it’s a matter of time.   God is with us.   God knows the plans he has for us.   Through Christmas we are encouraged to continue believing for God is with us.   No weapon against him shall prosper.   No-one or power can thwart His plans.   God is with us.     – Rosina

>>> Read other devotionals from Pastor Fibion >>>

Tags: Christmas, devotional, God with us, Good News, loss, suffering, zimbabwe
Filed under: General Blog, Prayer, Praise, Devotionals