By Cindy Koch –

There were quite a lot of protest rallies last Saturday and on inauguration day. The gals got together in Washington D.C. as well. In our modern culture, it seems that if we are disappointed with the way things are going, we’d better show up somewhere with a sign. Admittedly, I was a little slow on the uptake. Sitting here a few days later scrolling through all of the pictures of protest groups proudly gathering to send a profound message, it all made me very sad.

It’s clear we live in a turbulent world, as did the generations who came before us. The villains and heroes change, the manner and media adapt, but our passions are still enflamed about the injustice and suffering all around. Maybe you went out to support one of these protests. Maybe you were defending on the Facebook home front. Maybe you were overwhelmed or isolated from the whole affair. But the timeless problem remains: It’s bad out there.

Although this is true for everyone, my sorrow is particularly for our women—my sisters, my daughters, my mentors who have gone before me. We have been crying out for an answer to our pain for a very long time. Yet, even now our world disappoints us again, but we can’t stop searching for a peaceful and just reality. Despite our unified voice and invigorating numbers this past weekend, deep down, we know nothing has really changed. We will continue to be hurt and unsupported. We will continue to fight and struggle. We will sadly take up another sign another time because the problem is still out there, and we haven’t really solved anything.

But what if…

What if there were no problems to protest? Of course, we would have an amazing world. Friends on Facebook wouldn’t type a single hurtful syllable. Nations and peoples wouldn’t plot and plan to kill each other. Women and their babies wouldn’t struggle against each other for that precious breath of life. The lazy and the workaholic would disappear into pleasing moderate balance. Addictions would cease, anorexics would eat heartily, and cancer would have never taken a single loved one from our arms.

What if…

What if men and women lived in harmony? Fights and disagreements would not divide. A man would protect and care for that beautiful female creation that was taken from his side. A woman would love and be a help to her husband. Divorce would have never been a word. They would never dream of hurting each other. A woman would not long for authority or control. A man would stand up boldly and leave his parents to sacrificially cling to the woman God gave him.

What if…

What if we still looked like God’s creations in His garden? We would walk around with God, unashamed and without doubt. We would love the Word of the Creator and listen intently. We would be fruitful and multiply, and we would cherish the way God designed His creatures. There would be no sin, destruction, or death. Trees would produce bountifully. Rivers would flow gently with clean life-giving water. We would be fed by the tree of eternal life, and God would dwell with us, His children.

I know, sisters. I see it too. Our world doesn’t look like the “what ifs.”

But what if…

What if you heard that Christ solved this great and terrible problem? Jesus Christ, both almighty God and perfect man, would be the only one who could stand up in protest to the sin that saturates you and your world. Instead of a clever sign, Jesus holds up his unblemished life and chants, “It is finished…” The fighting, the sadness, the grave, the strife, the anger, and the pain are all put to death in that dying protest of God’s beloved Son, never to touch you again.

And what if…

What if you believed that His death restored you? You would still cry over the injustice of this passing world, but you would also trust in the promises of the world to come. Even now you would believe that you are God’s good creation in Christ, designed to love His will. Today you would walk with the children of God, feeding from the tree of life, now hidden in water and word, bread and wine. Men and women would forgive each other, love each other, and imperfectly live in a shadow of harmony. The unfixable problems of this sinful world would be lifted from your shoulders. Resurrected with Christ, you would be free from protest.

What if?