Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood f the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Revelation 12:10-11

We sat together in the small circle finishing up devotions and prayer. As we said our final “Amen”, from behind me came a woman I didn’t know very well. She asked if she could say a few words. She went on to share with the group of my plans to go to Iraq on a mission trip in several weeks and wanted the group to lay hands on me as she prayed. This woman who had been to Iraq two times already, prayed things I had not shared with anyone–feelings of doubt and fear regarding the trip, from travel to safety issues once there, to my precious family who I was leaving behind. She covered it all, her voice filled with such love and assurance. The Holy Spirit was so powerful and present in that circle, the tears just fell from my face. God knew what I needed and He provided. He knew the feelings and the fears, and He compelled my precious friend to provide His love, His arms of embrace, and the reminder that in Him there is nothing to fear.

Another day of struggle came with questions pummeling me, questions grounded once again in fear. I fell asleep talking to God with tears falling onto the sheets. The next day, I went to church and had the privilege of hearing a pastor from Iraq share about the church there, and the miraculous things God is doing. After church, my husband and I were invited to lunch at a friend’s house where I met that Iraqi pastor and the team that traveled to Iraq last year. That afternoon was another kiss from God. The fears I had struggled through the day before vanished as I heard stories of God’s moving in Iraq, the needs of the women there, the beauty of the culture and the precious relationships that have been established there with many. I saw pictures from Iraq of real people who have hearts just like you and me, who have families just like you and me, who are living out their faith and trusting in Jesus every day. There is a bigger picture. Where my eyes narrowed in on the small picture of how this trip would affect me, God changed the lens and showed me the panoramic. This trip was about Him. I am not the center of my world –He is. Every time fear gripped my heart, in all His graciousness, God swooped in and freed me to embrace His purposes and peace once again.

I testify to the faithfulness of our living God. I testify to the bountiful love He pours out on His children every day–even when we don’t always feel it. I testify that our Father is greater than fear or any other emotion we may traverse through in any given day. I testify that He is good and when we don’t always understand what His plans involve, or our days aren’t the best, we can trust His heart. Jesus has won the victory for us by giving His life and defeating death, hell, fear, and sin. And as believers, when we testify with our whole hearts to who Jesus is, what He has done and continues to do, we embrace Him. We remind Satan that he cannot steal what Jesus has done for us and that he is overcome. How will you testify about the greatness of your Father today?

Sweet Jesus, thank You for who You are. Thank you that we have the privilege of testifying to Your greatness. Thank You that even though You don’t need us, You allow us to participate in the big picture of Your Kingdom’s work and plan. Give us mouths to proclaim who You are to a searching world and hearts of love to show You. Amen.

Jocelyn Hamsher

Side note: Jocelyn is in Iraq right now, please remember to lift her up in prayer!