Praying for Overwhelming Events

Sometimes the scale of the world’s needs can seem rather overwhelming.

We hear of catastrophic storms, wars, floods, droughts and famines. We read terrible human stories of accidents and criminal activity. We hear of racially motivated attacks, and these stories make us wonder how to respond as a Christian, or if there is anything we can possibly do.

I’ve been feeling quite a bit of this lately, and I don’t think I’m alone. I’m thinking of people going through the worst of times with illness and bereavement, and the bombardment of all that’s happening in the news is very challenging.

Yesterday, as I was driving, I was hearing a discussion about the Middle East. Those who know the region well, with all its complexities and ethnic divisions, are seeing the potential for huge human suffering if war breaks out further. The signs seem ominous and, it is with this in mind, I offer some suggestions for how to pray for unfolding news stories from an agency I respect very much called, 24-7 Prayer.

I think of the potential invasion of Lebanon by Israel in an attempt to defeat the group Hezbollah, and the ongoing bombardment of Gaza with a huge humanitarian crisis of food shortage and the wrecking of infrastructure. As I think, also, of Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza, and the effects of the devastating attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, here are some suggestions for how we might pray for that region.

1)      Get informed – Gather the basics of what’s happening from a trustworthy source. What’s happening? Where? Who is affected? Who are the key leaders and who will be responding? What are the needs right now?

2)      Pray for people. Pray especially for those who are negatively affected? Pray for those who have lost family, friends and loved ones. Pray for those who have been displaced and injured, for those who are in danger right now.

3)      Pray for the circumstances. What are the problems that only God can fix? Ask God to intervene and that His presence would be felt.

4)      Pray for those in power. Who are the decision makers that can affect the situation? Pray for mercy, compassion and wisdom as they try to deal with very difficult events.

5)      Pray for the church. Who can spread God’s love and God’s hope in the situation? Pray for pastors, churches and non-government organisations that they would be equipped with all they need in the situation as they try to respond as best they can.

6)      Motivate others – Can you encourage others to pray for the situation? I appreciated the way our two Archbishops asked all churches to pray for the Middle East last Sunday as the situation escalated, and offered a prayer to help us to do that, which I will include at the end.

7)      Perhaps use social media to encourage others to pray, too. Can they add their ‘Amen’ to what you are offering.

‘A prayer of the Eastern Church’ taken from the Book of Common Prayer p.151.

Be mindful O Lord, of thy people here present before thee, and of those who are absent through age, sickness or infirmity. Care for the infants, guide the young, support the aged, encourage the fainthearted, collect the scattered and bring back the wandering to thy fold. Travel with the voyagers, defend the widows, shield the orphans, deliver the captives, heal the sick. Succour all who are in tribulation, necessity or distress.

Remember for good all those that love us, and those that hate us, and those who have desired us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them. And those whom we have forgotten, do thou, O Lord remember. For thou art the helper of the helpless, the Saviour of the lost, the refuge of the wanderer, the healer of the sick. Thou, who knowest the need of each one, and has heard their prayer, grant unto each according to thy merciful loving kindness and thy eternal love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Look forward to speaking again soon.

Much love to everyone,

Jono.

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