I recently got an email from Tearfund inviting me to join its supporters and partners in its “Prayer for the World: 5 Days of Change.”
The Tearfund campaign encourages Christians to pray for five countries which it describes as among “the difficult places in Earth”, where it works. “Where darkness is great, the light shines brighter”, is the conviction that the international Christian charity organization carries in its campaign to spread God’s love thus “change the course of human history.”
The Tearfund e-booklet carries an update on the current situation in the five countries – Ukraine, Ethiopian, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and India – and the challenges Christians face in their daily lives there.
It also includes stories of people in the faith, showing how their lives serve as beacon of hope amid trying times.
As Tearfund operates in about 50 countries helping people “tackle poverty through sustainable development, responding to disasters and challenge in justice”, it launched also this week a campaign for support and prayer for Turkey and Syria, where more than 20,000 people died and hundreds are still unaccounted for since the 7.8-magnitude quake hit on Feb. 6.
Millions have also been displaced in both countries by the world’s deadliest earthquake in more than a decade, prompting dozens of countries, including the Philippines, to immediately send rescue and assistance teams to the two countries.
We may not have the resources, but in our individual capacity, we can always rely on the power of prayer for the Divine Providence to heal, comfort and touch people’s lives and societies.
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Christians Post, an online platform on news, information and commentaries relevant to Christians all over the world, recently reported findings of a study that showed that a great majority of Americans consider public calls for prayer in a time of tragedy as a “force of good, with such belief extending across all demographic subgroups.”
The study, conducted by Summit Ministries, showed that 67 percent, or a little more than two-thirds of respondents, believe that public calls for prayer after a national as “helpful.”
The poll was conducted after prayers were called for the recovery of a football player who suffered from cardiac arrest while playing in a crucial match on Jan. 2.
In contrast, one fifth or 20 percent, thought the call for prayer was “pointless” with the remaining 13 percent expressing either no opinion or refusing to answer the question.
It further noted a noticeable drop in favorable opinions of public calls to prayer amid tragedies according to generation – with 77 percent of those over 65 years old considering calls for prayer as helpful, 70 percent (among the 56-65 group) 68 percent (41-55) and 62 percent (30-40 group).
The CP report further said that “belief in the power of prayer cut across all demographic subgroups, with most respondents of all races, age groups, genders, marital statuses, political ideologies and regions classifying it as ‘helpful’.”
Fifty-five percent of respondents in the under 30 group consider the calls for prayer as “helpful” while 27 percent regarded than as “pointless.”
At the least, the findings show, that more than half of the ‘most skeptical generation’ continue to believe that public calls to prayer remain effective.
I identify with the findings of the study as lately I have become more prayerful than ever – unloading to God concerns on, among other, my health and that of kin and friends, on much needed provisions and for his intervention on critical situations in many troubled zones all over the world.
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Those strongly founded in the faith are of the conviction that we should pray always and not only when we face challenges, misfortunes and tragedies.
Of course we recognize that prayers make people hopeful, especially in difficult situations and desolate moments when we need comfort, strength and peace, especially when miracles are expected and thoughts need to be cleared.
Or when we need answers and solutions to our problems or we just want direction and also to overcome temptations.
Or we need wisdom or a change in our perspective. Or we need forgiveness of our trespasses.
We have to pray because prayer is our way of communicating with and being obedient to God, of connecting with Him and allowing ourselves to listen to His will and accept it no matter how incomprehensible it may be.
And we pray to thank Him for the blessings we receive, especially the gift of salvation, and even the challenges we face that help sharpen and mold us to become better and more caring and in our community and for His kingdom.
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Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (Thessalonians 5:16-18) – NWI
