Economic recovery remains sluggish and sporadic in the Middle East. Many relied on fortunes made, but were ill-prepared for fortunes lost. Their chariots rusted. Treasures vaporized. Moths took the rest (Matthew 6:19-21).

“What is the national bird of the Dubai?” joked a foreigner, “the crane!” Indeed, Dubai housed about a quarter of the world’s construction cranes and high-rise equipment during the booming years. The boom went bust. Frozen metal giants sat idle high in the scorching Arabian sun, serving as acute reminders of desolation and desertion.

Hundreds of projects halted. Available credit vanished. Thousands of workers lost jobs or were not paid for services. Job and financial security became a fantasy. The years of recovery - slow going. “Dubai will take another ten years to recover,” a banker glumly predicted.

“What makes you Christians so different?,” asked a Muslim neighbor, entrenched in fatalism, a mentality of “whatever happens, happens”. Behind it is the belief “In sha Allah“ (If God wills”), which offers little hope, only the perception that God is mostly inaccessible and compassionless. “We have both lost our jobs, but instead of panicking and screaming, you seem to have a deep-rooted trust in your God that He would provide for you again. For me it is the end of the world. I feel so depressed and see no light at the end of the tunnel. How will I get my kids through school or pay my debts?”

During dark times of loss, many Muslims share this resignation to their fate, and are held emotionally hostage. Void of the knowledge of a loving intentionally-involved God, some put their trust in self-sufficiency. But the danger of trusting in one’s own chariots, such as those referred to in Psalm 20:7, is that the wheels eventually come off. In the same dark times, followers of Isa (Jesus in Arabic) are able to trust in the faithfulness of God and His loving Way. Believers know He will breathe life and restoration into any devastation, so they have what they need to stand tall when made low by adversities. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed:

“Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. (Isaiah 41:10, Amplified)

Pray fervently for Muslims who need this confidence. Ask the Lord to awaken in them a longing for His unfailing love, until entire nations embrace the reliable hope of Christ. You can help bring this hope to the Muslim world. See the links below to begin your journey there.