From Ira Kapitonova in Kyiv (Day 588):
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.
Psalm 138:7-8
Today, I learned that one of my friends lost her fiancé to this ugly war. He was in his early twenties and had a legal way of leaving Ukraine, yet he voluntarily joined the army in the first days of this invasion.
I kept thinking about this the whole day. I remembered a conversation I had several months ago with someone who came out of Mariupol after the Russians had taken over the city. This person had seen a lot and had lost a lot. They said, “In my mind, I know that forgiveness and reconciliation will have to take place one day. I have already processed it in my heart, and I have given it into the hands of the Lord. But every time I think about the mother of my fallen friend, I realize that I will never have the courage or the moral right to talk to her about forgiveness of this evil.” I think I know what they mean.
The longer this war goes on, the more pain it brings and the deeper the scars it leaves. We may never understand why God allowed this to happen, but may we never forget that He will never leave us and will carry us through this valley.
Voice of Ukraine 