A Prayer 4 months after Oct. 7

 O Lord, how long?

How long must our hearts be broken by the cries of the people of Gaza?

How long must our hearts be broken by the cries of the families of the Israeli hostages?

How long must we see images of violence and suffering?

How long, O Lord?

End the war, the violence. Free the hostages, return them to their homes.

The violence is spreading to Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and maybe beyond, the rumours of war grow. Block the spread, we pray.

The anger and the protests have spread and become more entrenched in our own country and other parts of the world.

Teach us to speak with both compassion and humility, so that we can speak for peace without showing disrespect to those who disagree with us. Teach us the skills to hear other voices, whose views are different than our own, seeking to engage rather than criticize.

Bring all, Palestinians, Israelis, Hamas, IDF, and us, to our knees before your Son, Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, in whose name we pray. Amen.