God's Mercy in the Midst of Suffering: Praying for Healing, Peace, and Rain.

In Los Angeles, families have watched their homes consumed by flames, their memories reduced to ashes, and their futures thrown into uncertainty. The fires have left neighborhoods scarred, communities grieving, and countless lives upended. One resident, Nikki Rifkin, shared, “You wake up one morning, and everything is normal. And you go to bed that night, and you have nothing.” How quickly life can change, leaving us grappling with loss and asking, “Why does God allow this to happen?”

It’s a question that echoes through the ages, and it’s deeply personal for those walking through devastation. Theologian John Piper reminds us that God’s grace never fails to sustain us, even in the darkest moments. He allows suffering not to crush us but to help us endure, to draw us closer to Him, and to glorify His sufficiency. As 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises, He will not let us face more than we can bear, and He always provides a way forward.

Around the world, suffering takes many forms. In Gaza, the pain of innocent people was tragically set in motion by leaders who initiated violence against Israel on October 7th—killing, raping, pillaging, and taking hostages. They knew their actions would bring devastation, yet they chose this path to fill their war coffers and turn the world against Israel. The result has been unimaginable suffering for their people.

In contrast, Israel, God’s chosen people, defends its land while enduring profound grief. Families anxiously await the return of hostages, entire communities mourn the violence inflicted upon them, and yet we see a nation holding fast to prayer and relying on God’s mercy.

Even in California, where fires rage, there are reports that human neglect and poor stewardship may have worsened the crisis. For those suffering, this deepens the pain of feeling unprotected and vulnerable. But as believers, we are reminded that mercy is not passive—it is empathy in action. When faced with suffering, do we seek to relieve it, or do we walk past, like the priest and the Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan? (Luke 10:36-37). Jesus asks us to go and do likewise—not simply to feel compassion but to take deliberate steps to help those in need.

And as we act, we hold on to His words in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.” Mercy flows from God to us so that it can flow through us.

As Modern-Day Esthers, we have a role to play in this broken world. We stand in the gap, praying for God to bring rain where there is drought, peace where there is war, and healing where there is suffering. We speak the truth about Israel, sharing God’s heart for His chosen people and praying for the peace of Jerusalem. We take tangible steps to support those in need—whether donating to fire relief efforts, comforting those who are grieving, or advocating for truth and justice in our communities.

When suffering touches our lives, it’s natural to ask, “Why me? How could God allow this to happen to me?” But what if we shifted the question to, “What is God’s purpose in this? How can He use this moment to refine me, draw me closer to Him, and reveal His mercy?”

As we pray for Israel, for the peace of Jerusalem, for rain in California, and for healing in broken places, let us remember: God’s mercy never fails. It empowers us to endure and equips us to reflect His love for such a time as this.