Weekly devotion: The God who sees
MERATH, Syria
Image credit: Conner Baker, via Unsplash
Gender-based violence is an issue of growing concern in Syria, exacerbated by 13 years of conflict. Our partner, Middle East Revive and Thrive (MERATH), runs a project in Homs providing specialist healthcare, counselling and legal support to women and girls who have experienced abuse and violence, as well as broader awareness-raising about women’s rights and gender-based violence. The project helps women and girls to identify abusive and toxic situations and exit them where possible.
Bible reading
‘Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
do not forget the oppressed.
Why do the wicked renounce God
and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”?
But you do see! Indeed, you note trouble and grief,
that you may take it into your hands;
the helpless commit themselves to you;
you have been the helper of the orphan.’
Psalm 10: 12-14
Thought
We can take great comfort in the fact that our God is a God who sees. There may be times when we feel alone or forgotten, but the reality is that we can ‘cast all of our anxiety on him because he cares for us’ (see 1 Peter 5:7).
As we think of the women and girls that this project is working with, let us confidently commit them into the hands of the God who sees them and cares for them.
Ask yourself: If we are experiencing hard times, or supporting someone else walking through difficulties, what difference does it make to recognise and acknowledge that God sees and cares for us as individuals?
Prayer
Lord God,
We lift before you the women and girls that this project in Syria is supporting. As they work through pain and trauma, may you bring comfort and hope.
We pray for the project staff, as they respond to the needs of the women they are serving. May you clothe them with compassion, kindness and Christ-like love. Grant them the energy and sensitivity they need to serve well.
Help us to remember that you are a God who cares for individuals. May we seek to emulate this in our own lives.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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