An ancient Greek word meaning “yoked together” is rendered in the English language as “syzygy.”
It is used primarily in astronomical circles to indicate the alignment of at least three heavenly bodies, such as in an eclipse. During such moments, they are “yoked together.”
Much of the world today is facing a syzygy of catastrophes (another Greek word!) – an alignment of three crises yoked together. The first, of course, has been the coronavirus pandemic and its deadly impact across the globe.
The second catastrophe is the economic destruction caused by the lockdown of societies in an effort to curb the spread of the virus. And the third has erupted over social justice matters related to racism and inequality. Our nation in particular feels these tensions sharply.
In such times, we and those around us are gripped by fears as we remain isolated from one another. Some in their loneliness fear abandonment or neglect. Others worry about inadequate resources, perhaps from losing their jobs or investments. Still others fear a loss of independence, of health, of safety, due to the pandemic or the social upheaval we are witnessing nightly on TV. Looming behind all these fears is the reminder of our mortality. We like to pretend we are in control and can shape reality however we wish, but crises have a way of piercing through our illusions.
These illusions are not new – they go back all the way to the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve swallowed the serpent’s lie that human beings could be like God Himself. We could cast God aside, no longer needing Him, and could live with no limits, enjoying supreme power, shrewd knowledge and endless life. But the deception was shattered when God called Adam and Eve to account, and they discovered that far from being in control, they were vulnerable, lost and helpless. So our present crises reveal to us once again that we are powerless, have no satisfactory answers, and face the specter of our own mortality.
How are Christians to pray in such circumstances for ourselves and others? Here are some suggestions, based on Scriptural passages:
Acknowledge the reality on the ground – admit before God the fears, worries and anxieties that cloud you heart. Psalm 77:1-10 provides a wonderful model of emotional openness before the Lord (see Ps. 6 also).
Assert the promises of God which are pertinent to your fears and worries. In Ps. 9:9-10, David writes: “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” (See also Pss. 34:5-10; 34:4-10; and Mt. 6:33 as well as Rom. 8:28.)
Ascertain where God is already at work demonstrating His grace and power. Jesus reminds us in Mt. 5:45 that His Father’s common grace flows to all human beings: “He makes His sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” A focus on gratitude for all His present blessings, even the smallest, turns our attention from self-pity and moves us to the assurance of God’s care and provision.
Assure yourself and others of God’s attributes exercised in love for you. God is bigger than whatever you are facing. Remember the solid truth of Rom. 8:31-32: “If God is for you, who stands against you? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, will He not also give us all things with Him?” Consider the confidence of David as he sallied forth to face Goliath. Fortify your heart with divine assurances found in the psalms (e.g., 23 in toto; 62:5-8; 57:1-3).
Ask God for boldness, not just for protection, that He may fashion you to become an agent of grace for others in this time of crisis. It is no accident that the Golden Rule follows immediately upon Jesus’ famous “Ask, Seek, Knock” teaching on prayer in Mt. 7:7-12. He exhorts us to pray for our needs to be met, and assures us that God hears and responds with the heart of a loving Father. Once we know that we are securely cared for in the hands of a loving God, we are freed to take our eyes off ourselves and turn our attentions to the needs of others – doing for them what we would wish for ourselves. Trust in God leads to love for others.
Lastly, I commend for your consideration an actual case study of how the early church prayed during a time of crisis: Acts 4:24-31. As they faced serious persecution from the Jewish leadership in Jerusalem, they prayed in such a manner that the earth shook and the Holy Spirit fell upon them as a result. You will see that many of the principles I outlined above are reflected in this account. May the Lord help us in our time of crisis to pray with such fervor and singleness of heart!