Many educated women fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took over. That was in August 2021, and it left the country poor—not just in money, but in ability and gifting. Many of the absent women have knowledge that helps a country run well.

“They have been targeting women from the beginning,” an Afghan woman says of the Taliban. (Her name is kept secret for her safety.) “Why are they making enemies of women? Don’t they have wives, sisters, and mothers?”

Do you remember these words from Genesis? “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27) Both men and women show the world the image of their Father God. He made them to bless each other and tend His world together. Some are creative. Some are wise. Some know exactly how to help the needy. Some know how to build or fix things. All are deeply loved and valued by their Maker. It is evil to act as if some people have no value. It goes against God’s heart.

If women cannot help in Afghanistan, things will get worse. Thousands of people could die. Pray for the people of Afghanistan. Pray women will be able to do the work God made them to do. Pray that lives will be saved. Pray that God will bring good out of evil, and that wicked rulers will come to know Jesus.

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another. — 1 John 1:7