What if this was your child?

It's been heavy on my heart.  Over 200 girls abducted from Nigeria.  Kidnapped.  Stolen.  Vanished.  Missing.  That's a lot of families missing their daughters, their sisters, and their granddaughters.  These girls, both Christian and Muslim were attending school to open opportunities for their life when they were brutally stolen from their dorms in the night by armed terrorist.  The terrorists are a an extremist Muslim group, who's name, when translated means "Western Education is a sin".  Stories of them being forced into marriages with the abductors, or them being sold into the sex trade, or that they were being beat and killed circulate. They were between 13 and 15 years old and were about to take exams so they could go on to become teachers, doctors, and  lawyers. Families have taken machetes to search through the forest.  Frantic they gather wailing for their children to be returned.  And at the end of the day they are still missing.  And as the stories unfold about how this is not new, how children have disappeared in many countries, of what has happened to them and the mystery of  what has become of many of them, of the few who are deemed "lucky" enough to have escaped and live with the trauma of what happened to them, it is thought that if these abductors get away with this, it will be the start of this happening on larger scales in many areas.  And so as I think of these girls, I am also broken for the many others who have had their lives stolen from them.


As I have read some of the articles online, I have been moved to pray.  The other day I found myself on my knees, in tears, unable to express the thoughts that I was burdened with.  Prayers that came from deep within went out for these girls, for their families, and for God's mercy to save them.  I cried for strength for the ones who had chosen to follow God already.  And I prayed that those who had been living their lives worshiping  to other god that in this horrid time might find peace and real true Life in God at this time.  And as I poured out my prayers and tears, I heard the words playing from this song posted below.

The words stand true and powerful.  Join me in boldly interceding, in claiming back those who were stolen, in victory and healing for the girls, in bringing Hope to the families.  Alone we can do nothing, but as we unite let's watch our mighty God move.

"We stand here in your presence
Lifting up the name of Jesus
A strong tower meant to save us
And now nothing will defeat us
We are boldly interceding
For our children lost and bleeding
We'll see slavery bow to freedom
And the sick restored to healing
So we fight for those who've fallen
And we take back what's been stolen
From our families shamed and broken
Hope will rise and hearts will open
We'll see joy defeat depression
Liberation from addiction
For when we are at our weakest
Then your power is completed!
Chorus:
Faithful forever are you God, are you God
Merciful healer are you God, are you God
Mighty redeemer, are you God, are you God
Shield and defender are you God, are you god!
Faithful forever are you God, are you God (oh you are)
Merciful healer, are you God (yes you are) are you God
Mighty redeemer, are you God, are you God
You're the shield and defender, are you God, are you God!"