Teresa LeNeave - leneave2@comcast.net

I believe God intervenes in the affairs of man, but I have to admit there are times when He doesn't work as quickly as I would like. ... Times when miracles seem so far away. I was taught that God is always available and eager to respond to our prayers. So, when I hear of bad things happening all around us, Ijust can't believe God leaves us to random chance. Somehow, I believe He will intervene.

I believe, somewhere in all that happens in this world; in all the wars and fighting and hatred and in all the mistakes we make, there is a God whose watching with eyes full of grace and mercy. I believe He allows us to make our own mistakes so we can learn from them, but I don't believe we are on an island alone left to struggle to the death.

Do we ever really learn? Why does man keep doing the same things over and over? After thousands of years of war and revenge will man ever learn love and kindness is a better way? Let's bring it closer to home. Why don't we learn that in our families and our churches?

God wants His people to live victorious lives. I am sure of that, but there are so many people who fill church pews who are struggling with life; struggling to hold faith close when everything is against them. Let me remind you, God is on your side if you really love Him. The Bible is full of redemption. Of second chances. Of miracles. Of healing. Faith, the Bible says, is the victory that overcomes the world (I John 54).

His plan is that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and love our neighbor as ourselves (Luke 10:27).

I know, loving people we love is hard enough, but loving our enemy is even harder. There is a very complex scripture hidden in the pages of the Bible that I, personally, had a battle with. Matthew wrote, "You have heard that it has been said, you shalt love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them whichdespitefully use you, and persecute you; that you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust(Matthew 5:43-45). That's a hard command to follow when nothing seems to be working out.

There are times when prayer is like fighting a battle and miracles seem so far away. It's those times, when we are blinded by circumstances, that we can spend too much time trying to figure things out on our ownand not enough time trusting God close the mouths of the lions.

In tough times, it is in our nature to think logically and use what knowledge we have to search out a solution, and I think we should do that, but not to the extent of letting stress and anxiety defeat our faith. Paul said God can be strong in our weakness if we just let Him be. "And He said to me, my grace is sufficient for you: for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

Matthew 17:20 tells us that if we have even the smallest amount of faith, we can do what seems impossible. What I guess I'm trying to say, is "don't be defeated by circumstances. They are subject to change, and if they don't God will change us and give us strength". I believe it was King David who said, "I have been young and now am old; I've never seen the righteous forsaken, or His seed begging for bread. He is ever merciful, and lends; and his seed are blessed. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for ever more (Psalm 37:25-27). When miracles seem so far away, that's a great promise to hold on to.