Since the very beginning God has been calling and using a very unlikely cast of characters. Both Moses and King David were murderers. Samson was a narcissist, which almost killed him – but instead Samson ends up sacrificing himself and taking down a room full of evil with him; He discovered the secret: his strength was actually God’s strength through him and was able to bring down a corrupt temple with his bare hands… which is incredible, for lack of a better adjective. 

Also, since the beginning, good and evil have been at odds. They have been opposing forces in every country, home, and down to our very souls, the battle rages. “Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last.  I alone am he.” – Isaiah 41:5. Each generation is charged with the battle of light vs. darkness… should we choose to accept it… He wants us all, including the adulterers and murderers – but He won’t leave us where He finds us. We are something far more amazing than our biggest mistakes… If we say yes, we are His beloved. And He has fought for us since the beginning of time.

As the corrupt nature of huge, powerful companies like google, facebook, amazon, and twitter began to be cast into the light, my heart grew troubled. The hope that America could escape our consumer driven, self-pleasing ways without catastrophic events began to dwindle. If I didn’t have kids, I don’t know that I would care as much as I do… but because I love Jesus and light – I don’t believe I would let it go unnoticed either way. 

I followed multiple news outlets for a about a month, it was unnerving to say the least and very addicting. I am a person who greatly appreciates closure… but there was no answer out there, no closure. And then the most incredible thing happened. I read Isaiah 40:21-25

“Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God- The words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant? God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to Him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them. He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff. To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal? Asks the Holy One.”

I realized the most incredible thing, evil will never win! These battles have been happening for generations. Evil “hardly gets started… when He blows on them and they wither.” 

I also realized, we can actually turn to the Bible for all of our news. History truly repeats itself. God not only offers us closure, but hope! 

With all of this said, my heart has grown convicted in the role I play in supporting the wickedness. Those companies would not be drunk with power if we hadn’t give them so much power… well they still might be evil, but they wouldn’t have the power… that’s the beauty of a free country and a capitalist market. We don’t have to support those businesses… if we are willing to compromise.. not our morals, but our consumer mentality. 

Over the past 4 months, I have discovered the most amazing, kind, small businesses. It’s a beautiful thing to walk into a little shop and know the money you are spending is going to help the person behind the counter, especially when they aren’t dressed in riches. I also don’t want to support the communist country of China who is pushing these same companies to oppress so many (this could be a book all itself – I will leave it there for the moment)- this offers more of a challenge and really pushes my ‘I want’ mentality to, ‘I can live without it’.  And it’s amazing, less truly is more. And the greatest blessing, it allows me to rely more fully on my Savior and God to provide what I need instead of chasing endless longings and placing my dependency and worth in the hands of mankind. Jesus warns us of exactly this: “But Jesus didn’t trust them, because He knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like”-John 2:24-25 — As with all things God ordained, it becomes a double blessing. Praise God. 

So, I guess, we can all be unlikely heroes, big and small. God can take our brokenness, convict our hearts, and prune us. There is always hope in Him, and we can each be a part of the light through our actions and words when we are rooted in Him. I pray His light shines brighter than ever this Christmas, and we all join the band of unlikely heroes. Amen

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said. – Luke 1:45