Weekly devotion: What does it mean to take refuge in God?
Al-Kafaat Rehabilitation Programme, Lebanon
Image credit: Aaron Burden, via Unsplash
People with disabilities in Lebanon are vulnerable, with few rights. Amid the economic and political turmoil in the country, government support is lacking and there are no governmental rehabilitation centres.
The Al-Kafaat Rehabilitation Centres stand in this gap, delivering free-of-charge special services to the most vulnerable people with disabilities. Al-Kafaat is the largest organisation in Lebanon that cares for those with disabilities.
Founded in 1957, Al-Kafaat was a pioneer in the work of rehabilitation in Lebanon. It was the first to integrate people with disabilities into the labour market in 1957, produce prosthetics and orthotics in 1963, deliver all-inclusive education in 1967, and benefit from international expertise and technical partnerships in the field of rehabilitation.
As one of its many programmes that meet individual needs, the Al-Kafaàt Foundation offers orthopaedic rehabilitation, mobility equipment and other support for people with cerebral palsy.
Bible reading
To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the devious you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 18: 25-30
Thought
Despite turbulent times, it is comforting to remember that God is always faithful. Lebanon is in a dark place at the moment – and yet, even in the darkest of situations, God walks with us and sustains us. As we are reminded time and again throughout the scriptures, God can do the impossible, and we can access His grace and power in our own lives too (verse 29).
Ask yourself: On a practical level, what do you think it means to take refuge in God?
Prayer
Faithful God,
We commit Al-Kafaat to you. We thank you for the difference it is making to people’s lives, despite the severely challenging socioeconomic context in Lebanon. Protect the staff from overwhelm and burnout, and may you provide the rehabilitation centres with their every need.
We pray for those that Al-Kafaat serves, many of whom are living with severe disabilities in a context of severe poverty. May they thrive emotionally, socially and physically.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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