A few weeks ago, Todd and I took part in a mission trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. We worked with Life in Messiah, an organization dedicated to sharing the gospel with God’s chosen people, the Jews.

It was a busy week of ministry. We set up on a college campus and beach boardwalks, displaying a whiteboard with the question, “Is peace possible in our world?” and inviting people to “vote” yes, no, or maybe. Once engaged, we talked with them about their ideas of world peace, aiming to start a conversation about personal peace.

Face-to-face encounters with people I’ve never met are definitely outside my comfort zone, but I’m learning that sharing the gospel means pushing past the awkwardness and letting the Holy Spirit work in me and through me. Being “good” at gospel conversations and engaging people about spiritual things isn’t easy, but we can improve and grow if we’re willing.

One thing I have repeatedly learned and observed is how important it is to seek the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance. He is already at work, and we are called to join in what He is already doing.

Consider this story that was shared on Life in Messiah’s website recently:

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“What could bring peace to the world?”

For *Nathan, *Pascal, and *Yves, this question was a great conversation starter. Nathan is on staff with Life in Messiah, and Pascal and Yves are his ministry partners. As all are burdened for the Jewish people of France – one of the largest Jewish communities in the world – they did weekly outreach in Paris’ Jewish neighborhoods. Wherever they went, they would set up their “Shalom Board” – a blackboard inscribed with the word “Shalom” – and invite people to write their answer about peace in the world on a sticky note. This proved to be a very effective way to get people engaged.

As the day went on, the three men noticed a trend. With the help of the Shalom Board, they had struck up great conversations with several people – all Gentiles. It had been five hours since they set up in this Jewish neighborhood, and yet not a single Jewish person had approached them!

How odd, Nathan thought. His friends agreed.

“Let’s pause and ask the Lord to send us a Jewish person to share with,” Pascal suggested. They bowed their heads to pray, but Pascal felt led instead to ask, “Lord, would you send us someone who needs comfort right now?”

They said “amen,” opened their eyes – and there was a man staring at the Shalom Board. The man was sharply dressed and introduced himself as *Benoit.

 “Would you like to add to our board?” Yves asked. “What do you think brings peace to the world?”

Benoit said something so quietly they nearly missed it, but they heard the word “Israel.”

“Nothing’s been the same since Hamas attacked Israel,” Benoit repeated. “Last week, my nieces told me they were called ‘dirty Jews’ at school.” His eyes filled with pain. “‘Dirty Jew.’ Can you believe it? What are we supposed to do with all this hatred?”

Nathan, Pascal, and Yves listened attentively, offering words of comfort and assurance. To their surprise, Benoit began to cry. The men hugged him and promised to pray for his nieces’ safety. This only made Benoit cry even more.

Afterward, Nathan and his friends marveled at what God had done. The Spirit had said a prayer through them – and answered it by sending a Jewish man their way who deeply needed comfort.

“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God (Isaiah 40:1). You can answer this call today by giving to support what God is doing through Life in Messiah around the world. At a time when antisemitism is rampant, Jewish people like Benoit are in need of true peace and hope.

*Names have been altered to protect privacy.

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The Jewish people are precious to God, even though they have rejected their Messiah, His Son, Jesus. He still has plans for their redemption (see Romans 9-11). One might think that after the Holocaust, the world would reject hatred based on ethnicity or race. Yet, hatred continues to simmer because we have an enemy who is active in our world. Satan, the deceiver and accuser, delights in stirring up division, hatred, and animosity, especially toward God’s chosen people.

As followers of Jesus, we have a different story to share, especially during this season. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Jesus was a Jew who brought salvation to both Jews and Gentiles. 

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek [Gentile].

We know from scripture there will not be “world peace” until Jesus returns to take His rightful place on the throne of this world and rules from the city God loves, Jerusalem. Still, peace can exist today—in hearts. May we faithfully ask the Holy Spirit to guide our conversations and be willing to speak about that kind of peace to our Jewish and Gentile friends.

Who will you comfort today?

Isaiah 40:1-8 – “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.”  A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.