How to Pray for Haiti During the Worst of the Worst Times
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea.” (Psalm 46:1-2)
Haiti is on the brink of collapse. The cities are in chaos, as protesters have taken over the streets, effectively halting daily life for thousands of people. The situation is worsening daily, as more and more people reach their breaking point, fueled by desperation and fear. Threats of genocide mingle with looting, murder, and fighting—disaster is in every corner. The protesters are determined not to leave the streets until the president resigns, yet he continues to refuse. School hasn’t been in session since mid-September, and people are starving as relief food sits in the mountains rotting, unable to be transported to the people who need it most.
School isn’t the only establishment adversely affected by the crisis. Most commerce has been effectively curtailed, as well. Supermarkets, stores, hotels, and factories are shutting down, eliminating an income for most people, as well as any way to buy even the most basic of necessities. Even hospitals are starting to feel the effects of a country in turmoil. Staff are prevented from traveling to work, supplies are scarce, and some locations have even been forced to close. Rumors are spreading that the commercial banks are next.
Pastor Predestin has been spending his days at the orphanage.
"I was born in Haiti, I lived in Haiti, I grew up in Haiti, and I am still in Haiti. I have never seen such a situation of what we are experiencing right now in Haiti," he said.
The food supplies that were abundant a month ago are dwindling, and they have no oil, seasonings, and very little fuel. Traveling anywhere right now is dangerous, but threats to close the roads completely—even to foot traffic—are spreading, which would make purchasing supplies of any kind impossible. He hopes to be able to buy what food he can manage to find in bulk, but funds are desperately needed to do so, especially since prices have skyrocketed. There is also a fever spreading among the children at the orphanage, and some are so sick that hospital treatment has been required, incurring requiring more money that they simply don’t have.
In times like this, it’s hard to find any good in what is happening, and like Abraham in Genesis 18, we beg God not to destroy the righteous with the wicked. Haiti, more than ever, needs the hope of the Gospel.
Immediate requests for prayer:
- That God would provide a resolution to the political unrest
- For food and safety for the children at My Father’s House
- For safety for Pastor Predestin and his family
- That the crisis would provide opportunities for Christians to share their faith, and that many would come to know Jesus.
John Piper commonly says, "Christians care about all suffering, especially eternal suffering." As physical suffering hits a max in Haiti, let's pray that many would receive salvation through Jesus Christ so that for them, one day the suffering will end forever.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)
