Haiti Is Not Forgotten
“…yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18 | NRSVUE
My heart has been deeply unsettled looking at the news of the gang violence occurring in Haiti. Haiti has been a country that has faced turmoil for years now and at times the situation can feel hopeless.
Peace is an ideal that we all hope for, especially when we hear of different tragedies happening on the news, but it is important to take some time to reflect on the fact that many countries are still far from experiencing peace. As gangs wreak havoc in many areas of the country, displacing millions of people and causing a poverty and hunger crisis, my mind and heart turns to Haiti.
HOPE IN THE HAVOC
The situation in Haiti is bleak. According to the United Nations (UN), more than 578,000 people have been displaced, and nearly 5 million people are facing acute hunger (almost half of the population) with 1.6 million being at risk of starvation. Peace seems to be out of reach in times like these.
What Haitians want the most is peace, that will allow them to return to school, to farm their fields, to access basic services such as going to a hospital.
But I am reminded that we serve a BIG God who can and does take care of BIG things. When all hope seems lost, God’s goodness and mercy arrives like the dove carrying the olive branch back to Noah on the ark. God’s promises of remaining with His people are written all throughout scripture. This promise of presence may seem like an old one, but it is one that lasts for eternity. The promise of God’s presence is a significant one that certainly applies hope to the situation in Haiti, because where God’s presence is, there is always hope.
HOPE FROM HABAKKUK
As I spent some time reflecting on the situations that are causing fear and turmoil in the lives of so many Haitians, I felt directed to the book of Habakkuk. I can hear the message of God that HAITI IS NOT FORGOTTEN in these chapters.
The Prophet Habakkuk wrestled with the question of God’s goodness because he was surrounded by injustices and oppression. He cried out to God wondering why He wasn’t doing anything about the rampant evil in Israel. God replied and assured him that He saw the injustices and was going to use the corrupt nation of Babylon to bring about His justice. To this, Habakkuk questioned how God could use a corrupt nation to bring about justice. God’s response to this was that all nations, including Babylon, would be held accountable to His justice even if His justice seemed slow in coming.(Interpretations drawn from The Bible Project: Habakkuk video).
“For there is still a vision for the appointed time;
it speaks of the end and does not lie.
If it seems to tarry, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
GOD IS PRESENT & WORKING
But what does this have to do with Haiti? The promise in Habakkuk stands as a beacon of hope for Haitians today as all corruption will be brought to justice, and just as God did not forget the Israelites in their Babylonian exile, HAITI IS NOT FORGOTTEN in their current state of strife. God’s justice is for Haiti, and the Lord will not leave Haiti in this state of unrest forever. He is redeeming all things and is and will continue to redeem Haiti.
In the midst of all the chaos, God states that “…the righteous shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4), meaning that even when things feel out of control and we don’t understand why bad things are happening, those who hope in the Lord can remain hopeful in Him in the midst of darkness. Let’s join in faith with our brothers and sisters in Haiti, that God is with them, and His justice will be made known in their land. HAITI IS NOT FORGOTTEN.
HOPE ON THE GROUND
World Hope International and the Wesleyan Church in Haiti are a part of bringing about God’s justice as our team on the ground is working hard to provide relief in the form of food and hygiene kits to the vulnerable. Through your generosity you can be a part of justice work and spreading the message that Haiti is not forgotten.
Help give relief. $33 provides food for a family of 5 for one day and $35 provides a hygiene kit for a family of 5.
Want to learn more about God’s call to act justly, check out this blog. Find our more about our work and about how you can be a part of programs that help develop and restore just practices and relationships.
