“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” ~ Isaiah 26:3-4 (ESV)
Since last June’s war with Iran, we’d been bracing ourselves for another attack, so it wasn’t that surprising when we were once again facing daily sirens and the threat of ballistic missiles. The difference between this year and last year’s war, however, was that I had a job to get to. Though I wasn’t required to go to the bookstore during the state of emergency since we don’t have a mamad (bomb shelter) in the building, I felt comfortable opening the store, knowing there was a nearby public shelter I could safely reach between the early warning and the actual siren. Moreover, I wanted to keep the store open and be a light during this scary time, and it was truly an impactful experience! I met some great people, shared Yeshua with a few, and learned the art of having peace amid chaos.
Going to work in a season of heightened war gave the days a strange sense of normalcy… Well, until my phone and the shop’s credit card machine blared a warning and I had to make a run for it!
I know war is foreign for most first-world countries, especially those not used to the constant threat of annihilation. Until this year, I didn’t understand how most Israelis could act so nonchalant about missile attacks or stay out of touch with the latest news reports. I’d think, “Surely they care about their lives and want to know what’s going on around them, right?” But what I recognized during this period is that while Israelis do care about the current state of their world, they care more about their sanity.
The truth is, constantly watching the news is toxically unhealthy, and staying “prepared” or on alert 24/7 is completely exhausting. When you live in Israel, there is always a threat of being attacked, so stopping your life based on rumors, news notifications, or threats is completely unrealistic. If we lived like this, no one would leave their homes out of fear of an attack that might never come!
We cannot live on “what ifs.” Sure, we should be aware of our surroundings and stay informed about current events, but the news is constantly changing, so reacting to every alert is the opposite characteristic of the “wise man” described in Proverbs. That’s why we must inquire after godly wisdom and seek the Lord’s face during this time of darkness and war. Without Yeshua’s presence and peace, there would be no hope — and I truly believe that’s why we have seen such a rise in PTSD since October 7th. PTSD has become an epidemic here; all Israelis have it to a certain extent, but some are plagued with it more than others. Last month, Bar Asraf, an October 7th survivor and the boyfriend of one of the victims, Liron Barda, committed suicide at her grave because the pain was too much. I can’t begin to imagine the horrors our IDF troops and October 7th survivors have witnessed, but I do know they need our support and prayers!
One of the reasons I left Israel in 2024 was because my own trauma had become too much. When I returned, I was still nervous the conflict would reach our front door once more, but I was no longer living in fear or carrying my life on my back (literally) every time I left the house.
How did I go from leaving Israel because war terrified me to traveling to work every day between ballistic missile attacks? The peace of the Lord.
Throughout Scripture, we read about the Lord’s peace being on those who trust in Him. We see examples of it in action during harrowing situations such as Yeshua sleeping through the storm, Job’s great affliction, David surviving Saul’s pursuits, Joseph after Potiphar’s wife’s deception, Elijah upon hearing the Lord’s whisper, and Paul and Silas’ praise despite their chains. For most, their circumstances didn’t magically disappear or resolve when they chose to trust the Lord, but their attitudes (or heart posture) did. Notice that none of these people lost sight of their mission or faith. In fact, a lot of them thrived despite their hardships. Why? Because they were living with God and not just for Him.
I’m sure you’ve heard people ask why bad things have happened to them. I think every believer has a moment of asking God, “Why have you allowed this to happen when I’ve given my life to you?” But as Yeshua points out in John 15:18-21, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” 2 Timothy 3:12 even goes so far as to say, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
So, why should we hold on and keep walking with the Lord if we’re promised such calamity? Because despite these troubles, Yeshua says, “Take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)! That assurance continues as we read the promise Paul writes about in Romans 8:17, “We are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” This is why we cannot simply live for God, claiming to believe in Him while fear, anxiety, low self-esteem, or doubt rule our minds. No, we have to live with Him, recognizing that we can still have joy and peace amid the scariest or most dangerous circumstances because we do not walk by our flesh but by the Spirit: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)
