Tinderbox in Iran

Hostilities in Iran are intensifying. As Iranians take to the streets in mass protest of their government, the Iranian regime is attempting to deny its people access to the outside world by blocking the Internet and other communication methods. The United States government has instructed American citizens to “leave Iran now,” and private communication companies—most notably Starlink—are attempting to provide reliable Internet access despite the regime’s efforts to block it. Reports indicate the death toll is rising significantly, though as communication in and out of Iran becomes more difficult, it will be more challenging to accurately determine the extent of the casualties.

Analysis and eternal perspective: The human heart longs to be free because it was created to be free (Gal. 5:1). This sounds like a repeat because it is. We rarely feature a story in back-to-back issues of The Equipped, but this story is rapidly intensifying and also vividly depicts an absolutely critical principle for followers of Jesus: You were created to be free, and you are designed to stand in the gap for those who are not (Gal. 5:13, Ps. 82:3).

Unfortunately, this has been a recurring cycle in Iran. The people rise up in protest, and the regime retaliates with force and suppresses the uprising. But eventually, another wave of protest arrives and the regime again attempts to suppress it.

It can feel hopeless. But one of the most sustaining forces in the world is an assurance you are not alone. It is why one of the central struggles in Iran right now is over access to communication. This is a concept we discussed in The True just a couple weeks ago. If the Iranian people can access the knowledge they are not alone in their struggle for freedom, the regime will have a much more difficult job suppressing them. The regime knows this and is therefore doing everything in its power to jam all communications in or out of the country.

You and I have two takeaways:

1) Don’t let the enemy jam the signal of your communication with God.

2) Stand with the Iranian people in both prayer and public support as they yearn for, and even risk their lives in pursuit of, freedom.

The preceding article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.