I have a niece who lives in Ukraine.  She first went there as a college student on short-term mission trips to help in orphanages.  She fell in love with the children and the country and chose to return to Ukraine when she completed college.  It wasn’t long before she met and married a Ukrainian native, and they now have four children.  Their home is near Rivne in the northwest section of the country.

Like many Ukrainians, Laura and her husband hoped not to need to flee their country when the Russian invasion began.  Rivne was relatively distanced from the early fighting.  As the war escalated, they found themselves facing the decision of fleeing or staying.  They finally decided to pack up their vehicles and escape to Romania.  When Laura posted on Facebook that they would be traveling the next day, we all waited and waited and waited for word that they had safely crossed the border.  Laura’s next post sharing that they did indeed cross the border to safety was received with relief for those of us who were praying; but it was uttered with an excruciating mix of guilt, fear and grief for Laura and her husband.  They were safe, but so many family members and friends remained behind.

If you are like me, you have daily watched the invasion unfold and witnessed the utter carnage Russia has inflicted upon the Ukrainians.  It is impossible to watch without wondering WHY the United States has not done more?  HOW can we allow a mad man to systematically destroy a country that did nothing to provoke this outrage?  WHEN will the execution of civilians reach the point where we say, “No more!”

There are seasons in life when our privilege of prayer is invoked more often than other times.  May this be one of those seasons when we are praying without ceasing, upholding the Ukrainians with pleas for comfort and peace within their souls.