I can feel angst on some rather deep levels. And I’m a believer with a pretty stable life. If I struggle to find peace, what must it feel like for someone to experience NO peace?

No peace. Not even a little bit. No sense of wholeness, security, rest. No assurance that anything now or in the future will be set right in a way that is a blessing to me.

That sounds like hell on earth already.

The power of sin to separate us from peace is severe. Wickedness and peace Do. Not. Coexist. “No peace” is the lot for any of us left to ourselves, though few admit the extremity of our predicament.

Chaos. Disarray. Destruction. This is the territory of the wicked, those who live apart from God. “No peace” is not just what they inflict on others; this is where they sleep at night.

Brutal. I’m not saying they haven’t earned it. But how terrifying and hopeless. Empty, desolate, and trapped.

And look at the heart of God toward them: “Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.”  Isaiah 55:7

So today I made a list of the baddest of the bad I could think of–  who seem so far from God that it’s hard to imagine them ever bowing to ask for forgiveness. I won’t put here the names I picked. Whom would you include? Your list might have some faces and personal memories attached. Or maybe you could pray for a reprobate that no one else is mentioning before the Throne of God:

• Sex-trafficking perpetrators
• Thieving politicians
• Anti-God power brokers
• Cruel dictators
• Demented entertainers

Heavenly Father, disruptions in peace in my own life feel bad enough. But these have no peace. I appeal to Your mercy for a grace they don’t deserve. I do not minimize the sins they have participated in. What punishment is severe enough to be fair payment for the pain and destruction they have inflicted on others while they spit in Your face?

But they have no peace. And they have no possibility of receiving any unless You hack the firewalls around them and open a door for them to escape.

The blood of Jesus is as sufficient for their sins as it is for mine. It is enough to cover and cleanse even these. The resurrection of Jesus offers victory and freedom even over this magnitude of bondage and depravity and captivity. You can redeem them.

Jesus’ resurrection from the grave sealed victory over ALL the power of the enemy—even enough for those who have collaborated with Your enemy like these have. They are not beyond the reach of Your love and Your power to save.

So I ask You, Father, to extend a merciful opportunity for those on this list. Let them clearly hear Your invitation to leave bondage and wickedness and to receive peace from Your heart, just like You extended to me.

In the mighty name of Jesus I ask it, Amen.