Praise God for good news from the Middle East: a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah came into force at 4am local time on Wednesday (27 November), bringing to a halt 14 months of hostilities and two months of war.
The conflict has had a devastating impact on the region. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, more than 3,800 people in Lebanon have died, with a further 15,000 wounded. It’s displaced more than a million Lebanese people and 60,000 Israelis.
Cautious hope
“I am very happy today and feeling so grateful that I don’t have to read evacuation orders and wait for the startling missiles,” says Sarah*, a young Lebanese Christian woman.
“We know our Lord is on the throne and He is sovereign.”
Sarah
“We thank the Lord for the blessing of the ceasefire and continue to pray that His work will be completed in full,” says Maryam*, another Christian woman, who adds a word of caution. “While the ceasefire is a positive and hopeful step forward, it is important to recognise that the journey to lasting peace is still ongoing.”
“We continue to pray that the ceasefire will hold. We pray for better days for our country and its people,” adds Sarah. “We pray for those who are going back to their homes, for those who have nothing to go back to and for those who have lost loved ones during this violent conflict. We know our Lord is on the throne and He is sovereign. We place all in His mighty hands and trust that He will continue to take care of us just as he has been all along this tough journey.”
*Names changed for security reasons
