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Photo: An exchange of smiles and encouragement in Dzaleka refugee camp, Malawi

Day 5: Finding Strength in God

Prayer: Father in heaven, I yield my heart and mind to you. Please help me understand your perspective of refugees and know how you want me to respond.

“...for the vast majority of uprooted people, there are few things as powerful as their faith in helping them cope with fear, loss, separation, and destitution. Faith is also central to hope and resilience.” –Antonio Guterres, UN High Commissioner for Refugees*

It might surprise you to hear that the United Nations and the Bible agree that faith is central to hope and resilience. Faith, hope and resilience are essential to survival and eventual recovery from forced displacement. Because of this, the UN is seeking help from communities of faith, believing that they play a critical role in responding to the global refugee crisis.

The refugee experience has a way of stripping people down to their core. They lose the familiar place they called home. They lose their friends and community – the people that shared their joys and hardships. They face many dangers and struggle to find safety, shelter, food and clothing. They are often unwelcome in the places where they seek refuge. And the longer a person is displaced, the less hope they have that they will ever return home.

There is no reason to doubt that David experienced all of these trials while a refugee. It was early into this dark passage of his life that Jonathan went out into the desert to help David “find strength in God”. Jonathan knew he could not solve David’s problems, but that didn’t stop him from doing what he could to support him in his time of need.

What dangers did Jonathan face in order to minister to David? What do you think it means that Jonathan helped David find strength in God? What might it look like to help a refugee find strength in God today?

Click here to learn more about The Work of Jonathan.

*Source of quote: Opening remarks by Mr. António Guterres, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees at the “High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges - Theme: Faith and Protection”. Delivered at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, 12 December 2012. Page 4.