Weekly devotion: A Hidden Place of Healing
Our prayers this week focus on the women’s refuge run by Think and Do in Egypt. In its secret location, abuse survivors can begin to heal.
Behind the door of an ordinary building in an Egyptian city, our partners are helping vulnerable women rebuild their lives. Since 2014, Think and Do – better known for their community development and education work – have run a women’s refuge providing safe accommodation for those fleeing abuse.
Violence against women and girls is prevalent in Egypt. Some women arrive at the shelter after suffering abuse from husbands, parents, or siblings, while others have been harmed by men in their wider community. Many are still in their teens but have no support or protection from the families that are supposed to look after them.
The refuge’s location is secret and it outwardly looks like any other home – women and girls hear about it through Think and Do’s other community projects, such as the Life Schools that promote literacy in Egypt’s remote villages. Inside, the calm and supportive atmosphere gives residents the space to heal, and they receive counselling to help them move forward with restored self-respect and dignity.
Our partners report that once the residents are ready to move on, they often return to education or find work, with some even making it their mission to help others in a similar situation. Please pray with us this week for every woman and girl currently living in the shelter, and that others who need its help will find their way to safety.
Bible reading
In righteousness you shall be established;
you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;
and from terror, for it shall not come near you.
Isaiah 54:14
Thought
Isaiah makes it clear that God wants his people to live free of fear. For many of the women and girls who come to Think and Do’s refuge, the promise seems unlikely – terror and oppression have been their daily reality. Yet through the support of the shelter’s experienced counsellors, they start to believe that a safe future really is possible.
We could assume that this verse means God will make everything all right without our input – but our own role in looking out for others is vital to his work. We must be alert to those living in fear behind closed doors – someone in your own street or church could be desperate for you to notice their hidden pain. As we pray for the women and girls at Think and Do, may we also look closer to home for anyone who needs us on their side.
Ask yourself: How can you help make your home, church, or community a place of refuge for those facing abuse?
Prayer
Lord God,
Thank you for the work of Think and Do as they help women and girls find safety from violence. We pray for everyone who spends time at the refuge; we ask you to restore their self-worth and help them heal. Please protect the residents and staff and surround them with your love.
Lord, open our eyes to those in our own communities who might be living in fear and unable to ask for help. Empower us to listen and act when someone is in danger, and to create an environment of welcome and refuge where terror cannot come near them.
Amen.
Read more about the work of Think & Do
Transforming lives in rural Egypt through education
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