Nick Fawcett (devotional and reflective writer)

Many people – even those of no faith – will be wanting to pray at the moment in response to the threat of coronavirus, but what should we ask, what words should we use, where should we begin? Here’s a prayer I wrote this morning that I hope may, perhaps, help a little as we seek to bring our concern before God.

Lord of all,
we bring to you our world at this troubled time,
as coronavirus spreads across it with chilling speed,
and yet more chilling consequences.

We pray especially for people at particular risk:
those with lung conditions,
those with diabetes, hypertension, MS, cancer,
those who are frail and elderly –
so many for whom what might be a minor infection for others
could instead prove life threatening,
leaving them struggling to breathe
and potentially unable to do so.

We pray for those living with that frightening possibility,
doing their best to cope with the fear and uncertainty it brings,
and trying to safeguard their health as best they can.

We pray for families and friends,
terrified of unwittingly passing on the virus to loved ones,
seeking to balance work and life responsibilities
with the wellbeing of their nearest and dearest.

We pray for those whose jobs will be affected,
who may find themselves without an income,
facing the resulting hardship that this will inevitably bring.

We pray for small businesses and independent traders,
faced by the likelihood of closure for weeks,
even months,
and, perhaps, permanently.
We pray for companies facing bankruptcy as cashflow dries up.
And we pray for economies as a whole,
confronted by the very real prospect of financial meltdown
and global recession.

We pray for hospitals and those who staff them –
for doctors,
nurses,
support staff,
ancilliary workers –
all whose efforts will be so vital in days to come in helping those at risk to survive this virus,
yet who find themselves overworked and under-resourced.

We pray for those taking decisions as to the best way to cope with this crisis:
seeking on the basis of conflicting scientific advice to plan wisely for the future,
in order to protect as many as possible
and to maximise the effectiveness of whatever disruption may prove necessary.

Lord of all.
faced by the immensity of this challenge,
and by the level of fear and confusion felt by so many,
we put ourselves,
and our world,
into your hands.
Bring help,
bring hope,
bring healing,
Support and strengthen us through these dark days,
and whatever we may have to face,
help us to get through.
Amen.