Ukrainians do not allow despair, and thanks to the bravery of Ukrainian soldiers and the help of friends, have that chance to drive-out the evil that came under the Russian flag.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his address to the participants of the National Prayer Breakfast in the United States, Ukrinform reports.
The full text of the president’s address is provided below:
Vice President Harris!
Dear members of Congress!
Your Majesty King Abdullah!
Each and everyone who has faith!
I am glad that for 70 years this tradition of prayer breakfasts, which was started during the time of President Eisenhower, has been preserved to this time.
This is a symbol that despite any, even the worst, circumstances, the best in people still prevails, and prayer continues.
If you recall the Psalms of David, you will pay attention to how often they ask the Lord to hear the prayer.
We never know whether our prayer has come close to perfection, and whether the Lord heard it.
And that's why in harsh times – when we lose loved-ones; when people lose their children, which is the worst thing; when life is at risk; when a criminal war is conducted against your people; – faith may stagger.
It happens that people think that God doesn't hear and will not hear prayer. And it is important for us, as leaders of nations, to resist despair.
"But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high!.. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me; Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear!".
These words – at the beginning of the Book of Psalms, and their determination balances the doubts, that are found later in the Book. Because this is confidence in the Lord, who hears and who sees what is in a person's heart.
Millions of Ukrainians are asking for the expulsion of the invaders from our homeland, and so – for the restoration of peace.
We believe in God. We do not allow despair. Thanks to the bravery of our soldiers. Thanks to the help of friends of freedom in the world – thanks to President Biden and all of you – the leaders and people who help.
And we have that chance! A chance to drive-out the evil that came to our land under the Russian flag.
"We have a chance – a chance to make hope and history rhyme". These words were said at the prayer breakfast last year.
This year, we see in concrete actions – in our joint actions with you – how this chance is realized.
We have been standing against evil for almost a year. We are united, as we have not been for a long time.
And we are brave – our heroic soldiers have already hit evil on the battlefield.
Did it happen only due to the efforts of just people? Or were our prayers heard by God? None of us is allowed to know.
nd this is one of God's best incentives for people. One of the best stimuli is that majestic silence, in which the human heart turns to God in prayer.
When He gives a person the opportunity to become better. When He enables the actions of people to rhyme their own hopes with their own history.
Does He help us with this? I'm sure He does.
But people's actions are needed – you have to wake up to say that the Lord is sustaining you.
And I thank you all, America, thank you all, our friends in the world, for waking up together last year!
We stand together. And we must do everything we can together so that next year – on the first Thursday of February – we will be able to pray simply with thanks for the obtained salvation from evil.
May the Lord protect you all!