Just a few days ago, 23 Korean missionaries were captured by Al Queda, who threatened to kill them if the Korean government did not release some of the Al Queda captives in exchange. At the first determined deadline, the bullet-riddled body of one of the korean missionary was found. He was identified as a pastor and the leader of the group. The Al Queda has set another deadline before threatening to kill more.

I guess no one in Singapore can ever fully understand what these korean missionaries are going through right now. And it is at times like this that many may question, ‘Where is God?’ and ‘Why isn’t He doing something?’.

I don’t have any answers. But what I do know is, He is still in control. Despite what you may think, see or feel, our God is always still in control. Nothing happens without Him allowing it. History is laden with martyrs who suffered for their faith in Jesus Christ, so how is this any different? Through the surrender of their own lives, these martyrs have made the name of Christ reknown throughout the whole earth and they maybe the reason why you and I have come to know of this amazing grace in the first place.

There are somethings that we can never comprehend and perhaps we are never meant to. But God has been clear about what we are to understand. He is and always will be in control. He loves these korean missionaries as much as any of us and He is watching over them. His plans are perfect.

Thus with these unshakable truths, I can pray with faith believing that God will work out His plans. I don’t pray that these missionaries are spared their lives, because I do not know of God’s plans. But I pray that whatever happens, God’s peace will always guard the hearts of these korean missionaries. That in the midst of their sufferings, the strength and faith in God will burn even brighter and they will continue to be shinning testimonies of Him even to their captors. I pray that their faith will not waiver and they will be able to sing like Paul and Silas when they were in prison.

“The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beatened. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown in prison and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully….. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
Acts 16:22-25

Did you see something remarkable in this passage? Yes, Paul and Silas were praising and worshipping God after being severely beatened. But more than that, all the prisoners were listening to them worship God! I can believe that it must have brought such an unspeakable spirit of peace within that place of suffering. That is exactly what I’m praying hard for these missionaries, that will continue to stand fast to the calling that God has called them to and be powerful witnesses to all around them, even as God empowers them. I know for a fact that the Holy Spirit is with them right this moment, strengthening them and giving them what they need to fulfill their purposes there.

I have never faced a persecution as great as these missionaries are facing right now and I don’t presume to know. But what I can do as a fellow believer is to pray for them, and so can you. Thus, let’s continue to pray for these 22 missionaries left. We do not know what is God’s plan for them. Of course, we hope that they will be set free, but we also need to recognize that His ways are higher than ours. More importantly, pray that they will continue running the race that God has called them until He calls them home whether it be within the next few days or till they are ripe in age. God is still good and He does not abandon His children to suffer alone and pray that these missionaries will feel that even more strongly as they respond to God’s higher calling.