Hello friend. As news cycles fill with reports of strikes, shifting alliances, and the movement of armies, it is easy for the heart to grow heavy with a specific kind of anxiety. We look at the Middle East and see a region in turmoil—but through the lens of the gospel, we see a region filled with image-bearers of God who are currently living in the shadow of fear.

Our goal this week isn't to decode the geopolitical "why," but to remember the "Who" that reigns over every border. 

In the middle of conflict, Jesus is still drawing people to himself. He is still the Prince of Peace in places where peace feels like a distant memory. 

Let’s look past the maps and the missiles to the brothers, sisters, and neighbors who need us to stand in the gap through prayer and steady witness.

In today’s edition:

🗺️ Why regional instability creates unique dangers for the Middle East’s smallest religious minorities.

👑 How to find steady confidence in a seated King during a heavy news cycle.

🇱🇧 Why Lebanon remains a vital, strategic corridor for the gospel despite a humanitarian crisis.

The Weight of Instability 🗺️

The Middle East is currently facing a volatile intersection of military conflict and humanitarian crisis. For our brothers and sisters in the region—many of whom already live under the pressure of being a tiny minority—increased instability brings unique dangers. 

When governments are preoccupied with war, religious minorities often face increased scrutiny or become easy targets for local hostility. Displacement is not just a statistic; it is families leaving behind their Bibles, their small house churches, and their livelihoods to find safety in lands where they are unwanted.

How to Pray:

• Pray for the protection of believers in conflict zones, that God would be a shield around them and their families as they navigate displacement.

• Pray that earthly leaders would be granted a common-grace wisdom to seek the preservation of life.

• Pray that the church in the Middle East would not be silenced by fear, but would instead find unprecedented opportunities to show Christ’s compassion to their grieving neighbors.

Finding Footing in a Tilting World 👑

_{UNSPLASH/Mohammed Ibrahim}

The headlines of March 2026 are heavy. Between the reports of military strikes in Iran and the rapid shifts in regional power, it feels as though the world is tilting on its axis. 

When we see nations in turmoil, our natural instinct is to scan the news for a sense of control, hoping for a headline that promises stability. We look for a diplomatic breakthrough or a de-escalation report to catch our breath, but often, the next notification only brings more weight.

It is a difficult place to be, even from a distance. The secondary trauma of witnessing global upheaval through a screen can lead to a paralyzing sense of helplessness. We feel the "groaning of creation" in every refreshed feed. Yet, as believers, our stability is not found in the absence of conflict—it is found in the presence of the true King.

Scripture tells us that while "the nations rage and the kingdoms totter," God is not pacing the floors of heaven. He is not surprised by the movement of troops or the rhetoric of earthly leaders. He is seated. In the Middle East right now—across every border currently being contested and in every city where families are hiding away in fear—Christ is actively reigning. He is not a distant observer of the crisis; he is the sovereign Lord who "makes wars cease to the end of the earth" (Psalm 46). 

This isn't a call to ignore the tragedy of war or to minimize the very real human suffering occurring in the region. Rather, it is a call to remember that no missile, mandate, or regime change can move the needle of God’s eternal purposes.

His mission to redeem a people for himself from every tribe and tongue is not hindered by regional instability; historically, it is often accelerated by it.

Our call to share the hope of the gospel doesn't change when the world gets louder; if anything, it becomes more urgent. In a culture of panic, the most radical thing a Christian can do is remain steady. 

So, how do we practically live out this "wartime" faith when the world feels like it’s falling apart?

• Pivot Your Feed: Every time a news notification hits your phone, take it as a prompt to intercede. Instead of spiraling into a debate about foreign policy, immediately pray for the protection of believers in that specific city. Pray for the underground networks of Iranian believers who are navigating this chaos with incredible courage. Let the news drive you to the throne room, not the comment section.

• Check Your Hope: If your peace depends on a specific geopolitical outcome or a return to a "calmer" era, it is a fragile peace. Ground your hope in the fact that the gospel has always flourished in the soil of instability. The church began in the middle of an empire that sought to crush it, and it will endure long after modern borders have been redrawn.

• Redirect to Jesus: In your workplace and your neighborhood, be the person who isn't shaken. When others express dread, don't meet them with partisan talking points—meet them with Christ. Point them toward the cross and the King whose kingdom cannot be shaken (Hebrews 12:28).

Our task is not to fix the world’s problems through our own strength or political savvy, but to point the world toward the One who holds the world in his hands.

The King is on his throne, and there he will remain. Let that be enough for us today.

—Camille Suazo

A Strategic Corridor for the Gospel 🇱🇧

Christianity in Lebanon dates back to the earliest centuries of the faith, yet today, less than 1% of the population identifies as Protestant.

The nation is currently facing a humanitarian catastrophe, with massive displacement following intensive regional strikes. Despite this volatility, Lebanon remains a vital corridor for the gospel to reach Syria and other restricted parts of the Middle East. Some of Radical’s partners leverage Lebanon’s unique geography to train church planters and supply urgent humanitarian aid to communities devastated by the conflict in the region.

How to Pray:

• Pray for the hundreds of thousands of displaced families, that God would be their shield and provide for those sleeping in makeshift shelters or on roadsides.

• Pray for the regional church planters being trained in Lebanon, asking for supernatural courage as they carry the gospel into war-torn, restricted areas.

• Pray for the logistics and safety of partners delivering aid through Lebanon into Syria, that meeting physical hunger would open doors for the gospel.

📍 Attention Worthy

• Secret Church prices increase March 18. Remember, you have 20% OFF as a The Commission subscriber. Use code COMMISSION at checkout!

• Massive growth in the Iranian church is the result of a sovereign God working through a people refined by suffering. Learn how to pray for Iran’s New Day.

• Remaining in Beirut during war requires pastoral courage anchored in the scars of Christ. This sober, hopeful perspective will help you understand what it means to be a long-term witness amidst the sirens.

• Sharing the gospel in large groups can feel intimidating for those who are naturally reserved. Here’s a shy guy’s guide to fostering deep, one-on-one connections in a crowded world.