Watching the events unfold from Afghanistan this week has been jarring. It is unnerving to watch men jump on a taxing aircraft. Those men know the prospect of holding on to the exterior of an inflight C-17 offers slightly better odds of survival than living under Taliban rule.
Horrifying stories are being reported about women and girls being kidnapped for use as sex slaves. Tweets indicating the torture and murder of Afghan interpreters that served with U.S. forces are circulating on all forms of social media. The situation in Afghanistan resembles a literal hell.
As a Christian and 20 year military veteran, I see six ways to pray as we watch the chaos unfold.
Pray for President Biden and his leaders
The withdraw of U.S. troops was always going to result in carnage. Those who have studied Afghan culture and understand the dynamics of the Afghan army would have told you the Taliban would overrun the country in a matter of weeks. The Biden administration has said the speed that the Taliban took over surprised them, and it certainly does look like they did not plan for the speed and scope of the takeover. Failure to accurately assess the will and capabilities of the Afghan Army is a major indictment on the Biden administration.
It is justifiable to ask why the Biden administration did not pull our Afghan allies out of the country several weeks ago. It is also fair to question why American and allied civilians are still in-country. President Biden and his military leaders need to do better. This administration is too experienced to make such rookie mistakes.
Pray for wisdom to be granted to President Biden and his staff as they navigate the days and weeks ahead.
Pray for the service members on the ground
The men and women trying to keep order and flying planes packed to the brim with people are acting heroically. I have been involved in evacuation operations under tense circumstances. There is no sleep, and the margin of error is very fine. Even if there were not a direct threat to the lives of our troops, there would still be a danger due to the intense pressure.
Please pray for them as they work to get as many civilians out of harm’s way as possible.
Pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ
Afghanistan is experiencing a reformation of sorts. In recent years the Holy Spirit has spread the Gospel wider than it has ever been inside the borders of Afghanistan. Many or most of the house church leaders and missionaries are staying despite grave consequences. In an August 16th article on The Gospel Coalition’s website, it was reported that many Afghan pastors registered their faith with the Afghan government. They did so knowing they faced persecution and even martyrdom. When asked why they did it, one Afghan pastor replied, “What about our children and our grandchildren?” they said. “Someone should make this sacrifice so the next generations can openly call themselves followers of Jesus.”
May we all love Jesus to this degree!
In the same article, it is reported that the Taliban found an Afghan believer and proceeded to rip the mans 14 year-old daughter out his arms. She is likely now a sex slave for the Taliban. This 14-year-old girl will be brainwashed into thinking it is her duty as a Muslim to be raped and treated like a slave.
Pray that God would protect our dear brothers and sisters. Also, pray that He would fill them with “peace that transcends all understanding” as they face persecution that I cannot comprehend. I also pray that for the believers who experience the worst, God would grant them the same vision He gave the Christian Stephen. Acts 7 tells the story of Stephen being stoned to death for his belief in Christ. Just before he dies, Stephen proclaims, “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Pray for the Afghan citizens who cannot leave
There are millions of Afghan citizens who do not have the means to leave the country. They face a future of brutal dictatorship under the harshest form of Sharia Law that Islam offers. Women and girls will be subject to sexual assault and slavery. They will no longer be afforded one of the most basic principles of life that we in the west take for granted; education. Their lives will now only be about survival.
Young men will be indoctrinated with a violent form of Islam from the earliest ages. They will not view all people as being created equal as we do in the west. No, they will learn to oppress those who express any opposing views to their brand of Islam.
Pray for the people of Afghanistan. Pray for their safety. They are precious in God’s eyes, and though most do not know Him, we should pray that they would.
Pray for unity in our country
Be charitable with your views on social media. Remember that you represent Jesus with every word you utter or write. Do not embarrass Him to burn political advisories on Facebook or Twitter. Hot takes do not unify and should be avoided by Christians who are called to be peacemakers instead.
I do not mean that we should avoid telling the truth. President Biden and his administration have let this country and the Afghan people down in how they executed a long-overdue withdrawal of forces. If you feel like venting, call your congressional representative. Remember that God ordained President Biden as our president, and he is somehow accomplishing God’s purpose to reconcile the world to Him.
Pray for a unifying discourse in the public square. Pray that all Christians would honor Jesus with their speech.
Pray for the spread of the Gospel
Afghanistan has proved to be unconquerable by two of the world’s great superpowers. This should be evidence enough that only a supernatural growth of the Gospel is likely to change Afghanistan into a prosperous and peaceful nation. One of the great things about the Gospel is that it does not need human intervention to grow. Jesus tells us this in parable form, “Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know-how. All by itself, the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:27-29).
Seeds have been planted in Afghanistan. It may come to pass that every Christian in-country will perish or be run out of town. But! The Gospel will “sprout and grow” whether they are there or not.
I am praying that God will make for himself a great harvest in Afghanistan.
