Last night’s Upper Room service at Pinecrest was a sobering reminder that so many around the world are suffering injustice. Social injustice. Religious injustice. Political injustice. We prayed for five countries: China, Sudan, Nigeria, North Korea, and Egypt. All countries where people are suffering at the hands of others.

I couldn’t help to think about how removed I am from that sort of oppression and injustice. It’s hard for me to put it into context. I don’t understand how people can be so driven to abuse and injure those around them…certainly not to the degree that is happening in so many countries around the world. But it is happening. But it’s never happened to me so it’s hard to contextualize it (maybe that’s one of the reason we’re commanded to GO…partly to understand?).

Then I had another sobering thought. God is making Himself known in these countries. Many people in these countries (and many other just like them) are turning to Him in the midst of their suffering and pain. Their anguish is being turned into hope as they turn their hearts toward God. The process may be slow, but it’s happening.

Since the beginning of the year I’ve been praying every day for a different country around the world as part of the Operation World Prayer Movement (I highly recommend you join…it’s simple, give them your email and you get a country in your Inbox every day with a short bio, prayer requests, and even a little video of someone else praying for the country).

Here’s the thing: I’m not just praying for countries where oppression and injustice are rampant (although they are included). They also have me praying for countries with religious and political freedoms. Here’s what I’ve noticed recently as I’ve been praying for countries like Spain, Switzerland, and South Africa…it seems that the more freedom we have and the more economic prosperity we have the more we turn from God.

Freedom seems to endanger, if not outright kill, our faith.

This is only an observation. I’m not making a clear, definitive statement…yet. And it makes me wonder about my own proclivity (big word huh?) to take the easy road when it’s presented to me. It almost makes me wish for more hardship so that America (okay, so that I) and other countries that have the freedom we want for others with step up, take our faith seriously, and reach a hand out to those who need it.

It just feels like those who are turning to God because of their hardship are onto something. And it feels like those of us who have everything we need turn away from God instead of turning to Him with thankful and grateful hearts. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have freedom…no way, God gave that to us. I just don’t want to be counted among those who squander what’s been given.

More to ponder…what do you think?