Day 16 - Getting to work

It’s difficult to know what we can do in the face of the heart wrenching scenes coming from Ukraine. Most of us can only begin to imagine the suffering of the people there, so clearly etched on their faces as they seek to protect their lives, their families, and their country. These reflections for ASecludedPlace need to be submitted a week before publication; and as I write this now, I am fearful of what will have changed by the time you read this.

Although I say that it is difficult to know what we can do, there are appeals to which we can contribute. The DEC appeal raised £55 million in its first 24 hours. I was caught in traffic in my local town last Saturday, and when I got to the source of the congestion it was a lorry parked up outside our local Polish Centre. It was being loaded up with donations, all from local people, bound for Eastern Europe.

We will all, I hope, contribute to appeals such as these as we are able. But beyond this we may feel powerless. What can we do in the face of such military might and such powerful global forces? What difference can we make?

Oswald Chambers, the early-twentieth-century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher had the answer. He said: “We pray when there's nothing else we can do; Jesus wants us to pray before we do anything at all.” Wise words. At these times, we need to hold fast to the knowledge that we worship a God who is a Wonderful Counsellor, a Mighty God and – perhaps most tellingly – the Prince of Peace. We can have faith in a God who keeps His promises. We can, and indeed must, bring our prayers and petitions to our God, trusting in His unfailing love and His mercy. And we can trust that where we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit himself will intercede on our behalf.

Oswald Chambers also famously said: “Too often we treat prayer as the preparation for the work of the church. Do you not see? Prayer IS the work of the church.” We need to stand together, with people of faith in our local communities and across the world, and do the work of prayer that we were called to do.

The following prayer, from Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, is a good place to start. So, let’s get to work.

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice,

We pray for the people of Ukraine today.

We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.

We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,

that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.

We pray for those with power over war or peace,

for wisdom, discernment and compassion

to guide their decisions.

Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,

that you would hold and protect them.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Amen.

Philip Clarke