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Eye on the World: continuing prayers for Syria
This week the international community continued to consider how to respond to the use of chemical weapons last month in Syria. American plans for a military strike were put on hold on Tuesday when a possible diplomatic solution emerged: the Syrian government accepted a Russian plan in which the country would surrender its chemical weapons and submit to inspections by the United Nations. US President Barack Obama said he supports diplomatic efforts, but added that a military strike could still be needed if diplomacy fails. The American public at present does not largely support military action in Syria. The United Nations announced last week that more than two million Syrians are now refugees, and more than 100,000 Syrians are estimated to have died since an uprising began in March 2011 against President Bashar al-Assad.
As tensions rise in Syria and across the Middle East, is there anything concerned observers can do? Yes — it’s not a stretch to say that prayer can play a major role in bringing about a peaceful outcome in Syria: one that stems violence, restores stability, upholds human rights for everyone, and holds leaders accountable. This kind of outcome is possible when we recognize that God is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34); that is, infinite Mind blesses its whole creation equally, and does not discriminate in its protection.
“My prayers for Syria” explains how even in a chaotic situation — a multifaceted conflict between the Syrian regime and disparate opposition groups — God’s harmony is at hand, and He is not distant from His children. We might feel that our prayers are ineffective, or that we don’t know how to pray for the Middle East, but God, divine Love, brings hope and assurance to all people, regardless of religious or political affiliation. This can be a firm starting-point from which we can gain a clearer, more spiritual perspective on Syria.
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