The news from Turkey and Syria incredibly grieves us. More people in Turkey have been killed in this earthquake than in any earthquake since 1999. The damage in Syria has affected people who have already lost so much in 11 years of civil war. We find it hard to see your hand at work in moments like this. We wonder why because the damage and death seem so random.
In this time, remind us that you are here regardless of circumstance. We know that our world is damaged. We know that there are many kinds of damage we may never understand. Help us trust you are still present, even in moments like this.
We know that rescue workers are still trying to find people. They are doing this in places where entire apartment blocks have collapsed. They are working where cold weather makes it vital to find people before they freeze. Keep the rescue workers alert. Help them communicate well. Give their supervisors patience and resiliency as they coordinate the efforts.
We pray for those still missing, waiting for someone to rescue them. Keep them safe. Keep them warm in the bitter cold. Give them hope where hope seems impossible. Show them how to help other victims when they can and how to work with rescue workers to ensure great outcomes. We ask for special protection over mothers and children waiting for help. Keep them safe from the elements, hazards, and unexpected threats as they wait for help.
We pray for the refugees and displaced people, especially in Syria. So many people have had to leave their homes in the last 11 years. So many were struggling to survive even before this earthquake happened. Without a permanent address or local connections, staying together or finding each other is much harder after a disaster strikes. Help these people to find their family members. Help them to get the medical care and emergency shelter they need.
We pray for the neighbors and community leaders who can help in areas affected by the earthquake.
Emergency relief and foreign aid help so much when it’s used well. Still, we know that so often, the people who can provide the most help are those living next door. Warm their hearts, and show them ways to provide food, clothing, basic medical aid, or a place for people to stay.
We particularly pray for the Christians who live in the areas. Show them how to aid the least of these and show your love in this terrible time.
We ask you would particularly help Christians to extend aid when dealing with people who are hostile to Christianity. Loving enemies is never easy, but it is what you command us to do. Help your church in Turkey and Syria to love their enemies exceedingly well in this terrible time.
We thank you for the world leaders reaching out to help in this time. Help them to set aside egos and ulterior motives so they can work together to give the most help to the most people. Move obstacles and move hearts so that charity will defeat apathy.
We pray for the Christian aid groups already coming in to help with this situation. Give them wisdom and perseverance as they extend help. Give them generous hearts so they can provide all the help they can. Give them cooperative hearts so they can work together, bonded in their common mission, even if their mission statements and histories differ. We know that the world will know we are your servants because we love each other (John 13:35), so show us how to love each other well and use that camaraderie to help those who need help the most.
Lastly, we pray for those who have gotten confirmed reports that their loved ones have died in the earthquake. We know there is a time and a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1), including a time for grief. Help those people to know they are free to grieve what they have lost, even ask you, “why has this happened?” You are a good God who can take our praise and our grief. You heard King David’s praise and his weeping in the Psalms and still loved him. You listened to the Old Testament prophets cry out in sadness at many calamities. You give us the freedom to lament and tell us that you also know what it is to feel grief. Jesus, God the Son, experienced pain and grief (John 11:35). Show the grieving people in Turkey and Syria that you are the God who weeps and knows our pain. Help them to grieve and, at the proper time, to see the redemptive things you weave from even the worst circumstances.
We ask for all these things in your name.
Amen.
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