Weekly devotion: ‘Cast your burden on the Lord’
Pontifical Mission for Palestine, Bethlehem
The streets of Bethlehem, busy and bustling in ordinary times, are quiet and empty of tourists.
The economic situation in the West Bank is dire. After 7th October 2023, Israel enforced an immediate closure of the West Bank and all Palestinian labour permits were cancelled. This led to the loss of around 306,000 jobs – over one-third of total employment. Additionally, the tourism sector has nosedived, with many businesses closing down or laying off workers. Unemployment has spiked across the West Bank, especially in Bethlehem Governorate.
Meanwhile, increased military raids and settler attacks means that life in the West Bank is becoming more dangerous and unstable for Palestinians, with many families facing rising vulnerability and poverty.
A new project managed by our partner, the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, is addressing some of these issues by supporting 15 Palestinians in Bethlehem Governorate who lost their jobs as a result of the economic cuts in the past year. These unemployed people have been given work placements in local businesses that have similarly been impacted by the crisis. The project is covering part of their salaries. Crucially, this will both help stabilise families’ economic circumstances and boost struggling businesses.
Bible reading
‘Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.’
Psalm 55:22
Thought
This Bible verse encourages us to trust in God’s care and provision in difficult times. It is a powerful reminder that God is capable of handling our burdens, even when they seem insurmountable. Many of our own trials pale into insignificance when we reflect on the hardship that families in the West Bank are facing – but let us remember that this promise is for believers all over the world, however difficult their circumstances may seem.
Prayer
Loving God,
We lift before you the thousands of people in the West Bank who have lost their livelihoods as a result of the war. May you comfort and sustain them and their families in these deeply challenging times.
We pray for your blessing to be on this small project in Bethlehem – may it be a beacon of hope and light, and may it have lasting benefits for all of those involved in it.
We continue to pray for an end to the war, and for all peoples of Palestine and Israel to know a just and lasting peace.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
New project: Sustaining livelihoods in Bethlehem
Learn about this employment project in Bethlehem on our blog - why it’s needed and how it’s helping families and businesses…
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