Praying for Our World

Posted on June 03, 2020

I’ve been riveted to the television over the last few days—and grieving for our nation. We are all praying now for an end to violence, for an end to racism, and for God to bring healing to our land. It is right for us to grieve during this time. This is why we have Psalms of communal lament that help us give voice to what we are feeling (e.g., Psalms 44, 60, 74, 79, 80, 85). Lament Psalms give us permission to grieve and complain—while we pour out our heart to God. “Lord, you have shaken the land and torn it; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.” (Psalm 62:2).

This last week has also been another difficult week for the rest of the world. Even while we remain troubled in the US, the world continues to suffer. The number of COVID-19 cases have now exceeded 6 million, death tolls continue to rise, and unemployment in the developing world is wreaking havoc among the poor. Our leadership team is hearing stories first-hand of how life in the rest of the world is getting harder by the day.

Our dedicated team members in India, Ukraine, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Costa Rica, and Guatemala have asked us to help them provide emergency food and assistance for people who are living on less than $3 a day. 3 billion people in the world live on $3 a day and 1 billion live on $1 a day. Because of COVID-19, many of the world’s poor have lost the little they had. We simply cannot turn and look the other way. Yes, we are an organization that equips leaders, so we are partnering with local churches to help in this time of need. Like the Good Samaritan, we want to stop and help our neighbors in this time of urgent need before we get back on the road.

You’ve already heard some of the stories, and in the next few weeks you will be hearing more. If God has opened your heart to Give Hope to people in this time of need, anything you give will be doubled through the generosity of one of our partners and it will be going to emergency aid in the hard places. And for those who have already given—thank you, thank you, thank you. None of us is called to do everything—but if each of us does something this world will be a much better place.

Let us pray for our nation. Let us pray for our world. “Lord, heal our land.”

For Our Team,

Lionel Young