Praying About The Covid-19 Crisis In India

 Well, we’ve all been saddened by the situation that’s developed in India with the Covid-19 pandemic.  The images of news reports of families being turned away from hospitals, people dying because of an inability to provide enough oxygen, families having to keep loved ones who have passed away at home as they await a space in the crematorium.  The images of those fields of funeral pyres are searing aren’t they?

We pray today, Heavenly Father, for mercy for people in India during this time of crisis.  Brazil isn’t far behind and other places as well.  Lord, there’s such a need for health care supplies, medicine, vaccine, workers to help out.  We hardly know where to begin to name the need because it seems so immense and overwhelming but you have said:

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.  Jeremiah 33:3 

On behalf of these vulnerable ones we pray: 

Hear us*, Lord, and answer us, for we are poor and needy. May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Psalm 86:1, 79:8  *pronoun changed from “me” to “us”

But You are a God who can handle big problems and that’s why in this time of great need we come to You asking that You will touch the hearts of governments around the world to help out and to help out quickly.  We pray that you would even extend things like the oxygen supplies that hospitals in India have. 

Your promise Your comforting presence with us on even the darkest day: 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4

We bless those who are so sick and no place in hospital to care for them, for family members who have watched loved ones struggle to breath and die and not be able to do anything for them. Come close to them and comfort them and lift them up during this very stark and difficult time.  Once again we pray that You will have mercy on these many millions of people in India, Pakistan, and other hot spots for Covid-19 around the world. 

As we pray for help so people can come out of this dark time of disease and death we also want to pray for spiritual healing as well.  A few more decades of health on this earth is small in comparison with eternity in torment and separation from You.  We pray that the healing light of the Gospel will go out around the  globe and many millions of hearts with turn to You and put their trust in You and find new life through Jesus Christ – even today.

You tell us that we have a part to play in all this when You say:

1Peter 2:9 - But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Show us how to do what You have in mind for us to do.  We neither want to passively watch headlines nor jump in and do things that are not ours to do and which might even make matters worse. 

In the middle of this dark time on the face of the earth we turn to You, Lord, our light and our salvation. 

The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

We have no where else to turn in difficult times such as this but we trust You – You who invite us to cast all our cares on You because You care for us.  Amen

Well, I hardly have words as I watch the news out of India these days.  Let’s continue to hold them up to God and pray for much effective help to come their way quickly.