Revival

I've never met a Welshman who's not proud to be Welsh. I can't claim to be Welsh by blood, but I was born and bred here in Wales, and certainly consider myself a Welshman through and through!

I love this nation! I'm proud of Wales' rich heritage, unique culture and beautiful scenery that is famous all over the world. There is an amazing language, wonderful people, lots to do, and plenty of sheep!! Maybe I'm biased, but Wales is a great nation!

And yet sadly this week, I heard some facts about Wales that paint an altogether different picture.

Wales has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the whole of the Western World. Under-age drinking is at an all time high, and the highest rate in Europe, and in the last 12 months the suicide rate in Wales (particularly amongst young people) has shot through the roof and is being described as an epidemic.

It's difficult to ignore the facts.

Add this to the countless news stories of murder, rape, fraud, abuse, adultery, violence, theft and debt - you will end up with a very different portrait of this 'great nation'.

What's the Bible got to say about all this?

Well, in the Old Testament there was a guy called Nehemiah who heard some pretty shocking news about how messed up his homeland, Jerusalem had got whilst he was away in exile. In fact the walls of the city and its gates had been in ruins for 141 years. The town had been humiliated and was constantly at risk of being ransacked by its enemies. Quite a state for a city that had once been the capital of God's people Israel, where many important battles were won and today is considered a sacred and holy city.

We can learn so much from Nehemiah's reaction to the news:

And I (Nehemiah) asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. And they said to me, "The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire."
As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
Nehemiah 1: 2-4

Nehemiah's heart was clearly broken by the news of his much-loved Jerusalem. So much so, that for days he cried and grieved the state of his homeland. But look where he turns; to the God of heaven, and in Wales today we would do well to do the same.

We seem to be on a slippery slope where things are only getting worse. Some would argue that there is no way out, that there is no hope for our teenagers and the generations to come. It seems like no-one knows how to fix it. The police can't fix it, the politicians can't fix it, the social workers can't fix it. But whilst we can't do much fixing, God can. As Christians we believe in a God for whom nothing is impossible, and if we're serious about seeing Wales transformed and seeing broken lives renewed, then it's about time we started crying out in desperation to the God who knows how to make dry bones, new.

For others the truth is that the facts above represent more than just distant statistics, but are part of the reality of everyday life. When it seems like there is no way out, try turning to God. Through His death on a Cross, 2000 years ago, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price to fix the helpless, broken and hopeless state of the whole of the human race. He is the answer for our lives, our wonderful nation and everyone else who will ever breathe a breath on planet Earth.

Will you not revive us again,
      that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,
      and grant us your salvation.
Psalm 85: 6-7