As the news came pouring in yesterday about the disaster in Haiti, I couldn’t help thinking of some teaching on prayer I had heard by Louie Giglio.  The teaching was about how we pray for ourselves.  He challenged the common practice at meal times of asking God to bless our food.  Just having food on the table is our blessing - thank God for the food and ask Him to bless Haiti.  They need His blessings.

Ask God to bless Haiti.

That was years ago and long before this disastrous earthquake struck.  Even before the world came tumbling down, Haiti was in desperate need of help.  While it seemed that their basic infrastructure couldn’t get any worse, it now has.

It’s impossible to read or watch the news and get your head around the potential loss of life today (not to mention the suffering of those who have survived).  I don’t think we’re really meant to.  The possible numbers coming in the news go beyond the number of people most of us know.  In fact, the news can somehow shock us into paralysis. Numbness as we can’t fathom the loss and pain.  Guilt at our inability to help.  Frustration. 

How can we even pray for Haiti?  They need so much. 

First of all, rest assured that God knows all that Haiti needs right now.  We may not have the details of operations on the ground, but we don’t need to.  Just cry out for Haiti.  Ask for mercy for those still trapped.  Ask for strength for the doctors and emergency crews.  Ask for wisdom for those assessing need and allocating resources.  Ask for compassion for leaders making decisions about aid.  Ask for peace for a country that has been so unstable for so long.

Second of all, do what you can.  So many organisations are already on the ground there and getting aid out.  They need money to finance all of this.  Open your wallet!  If you know people in Haiti or associated with the disaster, help them.  One of my housemates works for Compassion and we’ve been trying to support her through this emotional week.  My brother and father are both involved in partnerships with Haitian churches.  I can pray for them and their upcoming trips. Support people and situations on a scale your heart can wrap around.

Third, don’t forget about this.  As much as compassion fatigue can set in soon after a disaster on this scale, don’t let your prayers or attention fade as this fades from the news cycle.  This earthquake will impact Haiti for decades to come and will need prayer for at least that long.  Open your heart to the possibilities of God’s work in the midst of chaos.

Fourth, pray that God would give you His eyes for Haiti.  What is the potential for Haiti?  How can God break through in Haiti?  How can this disaster bring blessings for Haiti?  A new infrastructure that is better than before?  World attention on the poverty of the country bringing lasting partnerships and sustainable assistance?  Intercessors committed to life long prayer for the country? 

It’s easy to great frustrated or feel inadequate in the face oflarge scale disasters, so keep it simple.

God, please bless Haiti.

For more information on the ground why not read this moving blog from Troy & Tara Livesay, missionaries on the ground now in Haiti.  Follow events from their perspective and find out how you can pray.