From the moment I heard about the terrible attack by Hamas upon Israel and the subsequent strikes by Israel upon Hamas, I have felt two things: horrified and helpless.
Horrified by the violence — especially to see innocent women and children being harmed. They call it “collateral damage”.
I call it senseless.
Like you, I also feel helpless to do anything about it.
As more and more details emerge about the events of October 7, which has been called “Israel’s 9/11”, we are saddened and stunned by what we hear.
It’s horrific.
So, too, are the images coming from Gaza where the fighting between Israel and Hamas has led to many innocent civilians being injured or killed.
Horrified and helpless. That’s how I have felt watching this unfold.
But it occurred to me the other day that I am not helpless. Neither are you. We have a weapon that is stronger than any wielded by either party in this conflict: prayer!
Jesus said:
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24).
In Philippians 4:6 it says:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
And in James 5:16 we read:
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
Prayer is a powerful weapon!
With that in mind, let me suggest some things we should be praying when it comes to the situation in Gaza.
Pray for those who have lost everything.
There are many who have lost their homes, their possessions, their livelihoods - everything. There’s no reliable count yet of those who have become homeless but I’m sure the number is high. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Of course, there are also those who have been taken from their homes and are being held hostage. Some of the hostages have been released, but at one point there were over 200 Israeli citizens being held hostage. Pray for their safe release.
Pray for those who have lost loved ones.
The images we see coming out of Gaza are heartbreaking. A father holding the body of his two-year-old son. A mother crying over the body of her young daughter. In one image a father sat amidst several bodies and it was revealed that his whole family had been killed in a blast.
And there are many who are grieving in Israel. It is estimated that over 1,400 people — many of whom were just innocent civilians — were killed in Hamas’ raids into Israel on October 7.
I can’t imagine what those families are feeling right now.
Pray for all those who have lost loved ones and are grieving at this hour.
Pray for the innocent people caught up in this terrible conflict.
Pray that God will protect them. Pray that He will lead them out of the war zone into safety. Pray that those who have been separated from their family will be reunited with them. Pray that God will grant them a sense of His presence and help them endure this time.
Innocent people always suffer in times of war. But as God’s people, we can pray for them and ask God for their protection.
Pray that God might use this situation to bring people to Christ.
The answer to the hate and prejudice and injustice and inequity that perpetuate the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas — and for that matter, Ukraine and Russia, and conflicts elsewhere — will not be found in a new peace accord or a ceasefire agreement or any sort of political intervention.
The answer is Jesus Christ.
As Isaiah said,
“But he was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
The healing will only come when all have fully given their hearts and lives to Jesus Christ.
Finally…
Pray for peace.
This conflict has gone on for so long. There have been so many agreements, so many broken promises, so many harmful and ugly things that have been done.
Peace seems like a pipe dream.
But our God is the One who can “do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
So let us pray for peace! Pray fervently (James 5:16). Pray “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Call out to the One who will answer (Jeremiah 33:3).
We are not helpless in this situation. We have the power to wield the greatest weapon known to humanity: prayer!
So then, as the Writer of Hebrews says,
“Let us with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Amen.