Cry out for healing

This month, we lament the darkness that has overshadowed the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and cling to the hope that God still sees and restores.

This month’s reading

Streams of tears flow from my eyes
because my people are destroyed.
My eyes will flow unceasingly,
without relief,
until the Lord looks down
from heaven and sees.
What I see brings grief to my soul
because of all the women of my city.

Lamentations 3:48-51

Devotional

We lament the violence and loss continuously experienced by believers in the DRC.

Let’s lift our voices to God, who sees every tear shed by our family in the DRC and every wound inflicted on them.

O God, our rescuer and healer, you see the scars of years of violence carried by our brothers and sisters in the DRC. Grant them relief from their agony.

The third most violent country for Christians in sub-Saharan Africa has experienced conflict for more than 50 years between a plethora of armed rebel groups. Violence, including abductions, sexual violence, detentions and murders of journalists, continues with impunity.

Over the last few months alone, people have endured violence at the hands of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) with one massacre after another.

“May God come to our rescue because we are fed up with these killings in the Beni territory”, Pastor Paluku lamented.

Pastor Paluku’s lament is the cry of our family in the DRC. But just like Jeremiah, they know, and we know that the Lord sees the wrong done to them. So we echo Jeremiah in saying: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail…“The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Reflect

Where do you see deep wounds that need healing in your own life and our persecuted family’s lives?
How can lamenting deepen your empathy and move you to act on behalf of those facing persecution?

Respond

• Lament the ongoing violence in the DRC and its devastating impact on our family of faith.
• Pray for God’s comfort for those who’ve lost loved ones.
• Pray for healing and restoration for the displaced and mourning.
• Pray for strength for the Church in the DRC to stand firm amidst these targeted attacks.

*Note: Violence is defined in WWL Methodology as the deprivation of physical freedom or as bodily harm to Christians or damage to their property. It includes severe threats (mental abuse).