By David Armstrong, who writes weekly about prayer at Ere You Left Your Room This Morning

Two young women were among a group of eager teenagers who boarded a raft for an exciting river experience. Before they pushed off from the shore, their guide told them to fasten their life vests securely and gave them a safety speech. Each passenger picked up a paddle, and off they went down the river.

The water at first was quiet and peaceful, the current relaxed and placid. After a mile of pleasantly floating downstream, however, the roar of the first rapids met their ears. The girls’ excitement rose as the raft rounded a bend and the thrashing white water came into view. The guide yelled for everyone to paddle faster.

Despite their best efforts, the raft quickly shot into an eddy and hit a rock. The pressure of the river folded the raft in half. When the craft finally broke loose from the rock, it whipped open with a violent surge, tossing everyone but the guide into the cold, churning water. 

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Isaiah feared for the people of his village. Several months ago, civil war had erupted in their country as a military group tried to wrest control of the government from the president and his supporters. The guerrillas had started ranging through the less populated areas and seizing resources from the villages and small towns. They had taken harsh measures against any who resisted them.

Today, word came to Isaiah that a group of guerrillas was headed their direction.

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Joe grew up in a small town, miles from any big city. He was well liked by both adults and children. The town was the kind of place that never changed much. People went to the local school, learned a local trade as they became old enough, and usually settled down only a few blocks from Main Street. Everyone figured Joe would follow suit because he was such a good kid. “Joe’s going places,” he would hear adults say sometimes. “He’s one to watch.”

However, Joe became determined to go to college. He excelled in school. As he progressed through his teenage years, they continued to have good things to say. Teachers seemed impressed with his intellect and encouraged him to keep studying hard. Eventually, his grades qualified him for admittance to a university on the other end of the state. He even earned a scholarship. People seemed excited for him and congratulated him with big smiles.

Four years later, Joe returned to his home town. He applied for a job in the mayor’s office and was quickly hired. Everyone was glad to see him come back and loved to reminisce about old times. But Joe was looking forward. He suggested changes to how the office ran, bringing to bear some of his university studies and knowledge.

But he ran into resistance.

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