Praying for a family in Gaza
Last year, one of my friends, an exchange student from Lebanon, and I had been discussing the current conflict in Gaza. I hadn’t thought about it too much because there are so many debates about which side to support, and I didn’t feel educated enough on the topic to talk about it.
I want to have a positive impact on the world and help support peace, but I didn’t know what I could do in the case of this conflict, especially because I’m so far away. I knew I could pray for these people, but how would I know if my prayers were making a difference?
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Later in the year, I got invited to a party at my friend’s house. Everyone at the party was an exchange student, and I was excited to meet all of them and learn about their countries and cultures. While I was there, I noticed a girl who was sitting by herself. My friend later told me that this girl was from Gaza. I felt a wave of emotion, including fear, thinking about the conflict and this girl. I couldn’t imagine what she was going through.
How would I know if my prayers were making a difference?
I learned that her family had stayed in Gaza while she traveled to the United States and that she had not been able to contact them very often. I wanted to help, and as a Christian Scientist, I know that how we think about things really does make a difference. Prayer is a way for us to better understand God and His creation, which in turn can change our perspective and bring healing for us and for others.
I recognized that the fear I’d been feeling wasn’t helpful for the situation. So I turned to God and prayed. I thought about how God, who is Love, created all of us, which means we all express and can feel His love. Another name for God is Principle, which means that Love isn’t just everywhere but, being Principle, is also governing everyone and everything. God as Principle and Love is the only power, absolutely everywhere. Recognizing this can help us truly see it.
I also thought about the concept of home—that it includes qualities like safety and comfort, which come from God. Home is not just a physical structure. Home is a gift from God that we all have, and knowing this can help us find refuge and feel safe.
As the week went on, I focused on affirming these truths about those involved in the conflict. I did struggle when I heard friends and family talking about news out of Gaza, and I felt fear creeping in again. But I did my best to know that everyone can trust God, and I prayed for everyone to be comforted and safe wherever they were, and for all to find peace.
My friend told me that this girl’s family had been given an opportunity to leave Gaza.
Sometimes, when something bad is happening, we might feel like begging God to make it end. But I know from going to Christian Science Sunday School that since God created everything good, He never created anything that could harm His beloved children. I tried to pray from this basis and to understand this more clearly. Soon, I didn’t feel fear anymore, and I knew that my prayers would help others feel the same.
A week later, my friend told me that this girl’s family had been given an opportunity to leave Gaza! It felt like a miracle because it’s so hard for people to leave. But I knew that God was leading the way for them, just as He is for everyone. Her family is currently free and safe.
As I went home that day, I thanked God for being our Father-Mother, who protects, comforts, and cares for all of us. I’m grateful to have learned that I can pray about problems in the world, and I know now that my prayers are making a difference.