They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. (Jonah 2:8)
I delivered this message to the Ladies of Hope in Uganda thinking that it was about having a lack of belief that God could or would do great things with you. While not necessarily applying to Jonah, it certainly resonated with the Ladies of Hope to whom I was speaking.
These women have been emotionally beaten down so deeply that when they first came to the church to accept Jesus as their Savior, they could hardly hold their heads up. There was no self-respect and no confidence in anything that had to do with themselves. Some had been forced into prostitution by their mothers at the age of 12 and 13 years of age and had never had a chance to believe in themselves. They were defeated, broken, and lost.
They have come a long way. A very long way. But to tell them that God can use them to change the world is still too much for them to handle. There is still that little demonic voice in the background that whispers to them that they are just worn-out whores who are no good, that nobody wants or cares about, and they will never be any good because they are defiled and rotten. It is a struggle to push past those old voices and to stand in victory and believe that Jesus Christ, God Himself, did care. And not only cared but took their place on the cross to pay for their sins. Nobody has ever cared for them. Ever. But wow, God really did this for them? It’s a stretch for them to absorb.
I had wanted to make the point that the idea that God cannot or will not use them is a lying vanity, something to refuse, reject, and overcome. They understood that, but the actual response we got from them was something I never expected.
It started with Joanne. Joanne breaks out in this great big grin when you speak to her, but always returns to a downcast face when the smile drops. Obviously, something was holding her down. And then day after the message about lying vanities, she came with her little idols to be burnt out back of the church. As we set them on fire, I prayed over her and I’m telling you, it was like a hole opened up in the heavens and sunshine poured out all over her. She was set free! You could feel the chains snap.
I thought that was pretty good, but it was just starting. The next day, more ladies came with their idols also. I guess they saw the liberation of Joanne, and wanted the same thing. You see, they took that message to mean that God was telling them that these little idols they harbored in their bedrooms were lying vanities, and if they wanted to be set free – truly free – they would have to burn them.
There has been great rejoicing in the House of the Lord this day. What a difference in them! Yes, they have a ways to go, but what a change has happened to them. You could see it in the depth of real emotion and love as they wept and hugged Cindy when we were leaving. Seventy women have hope. They are free. It just doesn’t get much better than that.
Of course, Satan immediately attacked. All of a sudden, the landlord threatened to cancel the lease and sell the building to some retail store. Without a church, there is no place for these ladies to go, along with the 20 or so orphans that need to be cared for, and everything else that we have going on there. And of course, whatever little money they had, was sucked up by sudden emergencies that just happened to pop up now.
Wow, Satan must really be mad! I think we have struck a nerve! This is the pattern that always takes place when you strike deep. It is always followed by a time of apprehension (think Red Sea). But it is in broken soil such as this that hope is able to spring out of our hearts and allow faith to come into full bloom. And then comes God’s deliverance and provision.
The lying vanity here would be to think that because you are in the belly of a whale, there is no way out. But God hears cries of desperation that burst out of a sincere heart that reaches out to grab hold of faith. It is to such times as that which He glories in His deliverances. When Jonah cried out, the whale died just so Jonah wouldn’t get his feet wet when he stepped out onto dry land.
These ladies will not only overcome, they will blossom and prosper. Provision and help will come from somewhere, and the testimonies of their challenges will be heard by others who will also come forth out of the darkness of forced prostitution and shed the lying vanities that have kept them prisoner also.
PS – if you would like to help, you can donate or purchase their purses at www.LadiesofHope.com