Global Conflicts
Diego Bascur
We live in a dark world with grim circumstances. Life is stricken with poverty, hate, violence, and grief. Right now, at this very moment, there are over 110 ongoing global conflicts. There are over 108 million people displaced because of persecution, conflict, or human rights violations. We must remember the world beyond our own, and more importantly, the heavenly one beyond that. We can have an impact in this world; it is in part why we are here at Trinity Western University (TWU). Read one student’s experience with global conflict and these prayers from students—think about what your impact will be.
As these are stories of severe trauma, please read them prayerfully.
Student Experience:
What has been your experience with a particular conflict?
Russian invasion began in 2014, affecting my family and becoming a full-scale war against Ukraine at 5 a.m. on February 24, 2022, affecting all Ukrainians. Nobody had ever thought that we would experience war in the way that all of us have seen in the movies. It is way more terrifying and different. My family, my surroundings, and I were directly affected by war in the region where I am from and other parts of Ukraine where our friends have been living. Since 2014, my parents have been working in an international Christian nonprofit, doing relief and development projects with the United Nations (UN) in the east of Ukraine. I, 11 years old at the time of 2014, was helping my parents and have been actively assisting internally displaced persons (IDPs) and their children. We were hosting them in our house after they left the towns and villages of the front lines. While helping refugees, I never thought that I would become one. I am incredibly thankful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including my friends who are in the forces who continue to defend our country. I’m thankful to God for the Ukrainian soldiers, who genuinely have been protecting every citizen. I am standing here today and writing to you because of God and the Ukrainian Armed Forces protecting us, which I believe will lead us to the coming victory of Ukraine, where the justice of democratic values will prevail. Also, I would like to express my gratitudegratefulness to the Ukrainian people who united together and started helping each other in all areas of need during the worst time of our modern history.
How has this conflict affected you physically?
Thankfully, I was not injured by any explosions during the war against Ukraine. However, the sounds of planes have given me post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and my body reacts to the sounds of sirens, loud noises, planes, etc. One of the refugees mentioned: “When you leave home and live in a different house, you never truly feel safe anymore.” This is true on a psychological and physical level as well, as Ukrainian refugees continue to process the traumas of war that have multifaceted effects on their health. My family and I were directed to relocate and leave my home on the second day of the war, where we could not take everything that we wanted to and were saying to my neighbours: “If I do not see you here (in Ukraine or in the future), then we will see each other there (Heaven).” Being under physical stress during the first year of full invasion in 2022-2023, I could not gain any weight. My body was reflecting the psychological stress that I had been experiencing. Also, there were times that I did not want to eat and was not hungry, even when there was good food.
How has this conflict affected you mentally?
War majorly scars you as a human being. You are never the same person after you have experienced war. Even though I may seem to be the person who always smiles and is energetic in supporting and encouraging everyone in the room, the war has shaken me in the most significant way of human experience. I am not “the same person” anymore because of what Russia has done to my people and my homeland: it goes from deportations and sexual assaults of children to bombing civilian buildings and city centres. War affects your whole state of being because it is a direct threat to your identity as a person and as a nation. However, the resilience of Ukrainians is noble; it is simply bravery. Along with the profoundly positive qualities that show the foundation of who we are as people and nation;, sadly, mental, psychological, and emotional difficulties come as a result of war. I was 19 when the full-scale invasion began, and I believe that I have psychologically aged 20 years since the beginning. The war makes you realise what truly matters in your life. You are in survival mode. In the first three months of the war, the phone and the news updates were checked every five minutes as we were in the most significant distress: Apathy for life was a real struggle, and later on, there was a period of depression that made it almost impossible to want to continue living. The war created an imbalance of emotions that I felt inside of me, along with many other people dear to my heart. I was able to control this eventually, but at times, it was simply overwhelming and unbearable. I felt like I had lost everything at the same time on all levels of life, and I was in deep desperation at that particular stage of my life journey through the war. I was questioning the meaning of life and the purpose of all of my ambitions when everything fundamental to me was getting destroyed.
I’m not fully healed; I am deeply scarred, but I believe that God can use my trauma and scars to bless others. I think that God can transform others and use you as His vessel to help people find and realise that He is the One we need in our lives.
Despite all this, God has blessed me with my parents, my Canadian churches, which supported me from the beginning (Hope City and Central Heights), and my Ukrainian community, which later became the Ukrainian Bible Church Abbotsford (UBCA) in 2022. During my second year when I was on the Chapel Leadership Team, I worked through my traumas with these people who became my closest friends because they were there for me in my lowest moments. From 2023 until now, the different news from home has had the power to affect my daily mood and mental state throughout the week. It is now easier to refocus on schooling and life here. Still, I continue to be in constant FaceTime and Zoom calls with my friends and people that I genuinely care about, along with donating and helping with different resources that I have to contribute towards the victory of Ukraine and peace for my people. When we hear tragedies of bombed cities and dead people, we all mourn as it hurts us. However, there are also military victories; when captives are exchanged and set free;, we see Ukrainian soldiers crying out of happiness, and the global community of Ukrainians is joyfully celebrating. We understand that we need to stay strong together. As a Ukrainian abroad, I admire the continual resilience of my people who are currently in Ukraine, especially soldiers, who continue to protect and win the war for us. As Ukrainians abroad, we can be more reflective on how the war has affected us and advocate to the world for Ukrainians so that the world understands more and more of the importance of continual help towards Ukraine’s victory. There are a lot of needs that can be fulfilled: contact Mars’ Hillreach out to me to find out how to help meet the needs of Ukrainians in Ukraine, as well as the development of the Ukrainian Diaspora in B.C. and Canada. Ukraine needs your help, and if you have a heart for Ukraine, act on it, reach out, and let’s make a difference together!
My goal is to show readers that life can and will hit you unexpectedly. People who you don’t expect will hurt you. Despite that, rooting yourself in God is the most essential thing you can do to find hope. Let’s return to the foundation, Jesus, as the vine (John 15.5-6). In the times of the most difficulty, I questioned God, and I was frustrated with how life circumstances turned out. I addressed it to God with passion and tearful cries for hours–everything felt powerless. I found reassurance in God that He who holds this Earth, He who holds my life, who sacrificed His only son, will grant me peace in His name and hope for the future that extends beyond life on Earth, in Heaven with Him, forever.
I would like to offer my help and support to anyone going through a hard time who does not understand what to do. When challenges happen in our lives, with the direction of the Holy Spirit and a deep relationship with Jesus, we can bless others to heal. I’m not fully healed; I am deeply scarred, but I believe that God can use my trauma and scars to bless others. I think that God can transform others and use you as His vessel to help people find and realise that He is the One we need in our lives. Let us use our traumas and scars for the glory of Jesus, helping, supporting, and directing them to the trustworthy source of life: Jesus.
Prayers:
India and Pakistan Conflict:
Dear God,
I thank You that we can gather in peace when so many others cannot. I thank You for this education and the chance to pray for others. Today, Lord, I pray for India and Pakistan and the conflict there. I pray that You would shower both nations with Your perfect peace—peace that transcends all conflict or tension. I pray that You will work in the hearts of those with power and voices. I pray for conflict and depression,that women and girls could learn,that children would be safe with their families. Bring peace like only You can, Lord. Your salvation and love are like no others. I love You, Amen.
God,
Bring Your Presence to India and Pakistan. We know You are everywhere and are already moving, but I want to pray specifically for the military and political unrest. I never have to worry about leaving my home yet people all over the world are scared of their own country and feel unsafe constantly. Help those who need a place to go to be welcomed by someone kind and possibly Christian. Use this suffering to point people to You and what we’re meant for—not to suffer, but to overcome suffering. You make it possible to have hope in these situations. The world is so hopeless without looking towards perfect eternity. Bring love, peace, and safety in the name of Jesus. Let every knee bow and every tongue confess that He is God and He is enough. Amen.
Israel and Palestine Conflict:
Dear God,
I am so sorry for my apathy about the suffering of my brothers and sisters in the Middle East. I may have forgotten them but You never have. I pray for a miracle and for peace in that region. You are bigger than politics and You are bigger than corruption. Let Your love conquer the forces of hate and evil so that Your kingdom would become manifest in Israel and Gaza—so that Your will would be done there as it is in Heaven. Would You do immeasurably more than all we can ask, think, or imagine? In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Father in Heaven,
I pray for the innocent children lost in the war of Israel that’s happening right now. Thousands of young lives were taken from our world, too pure to fight back. I pray for an end to this—for no more war, no more children dying innocent—that kids can feel safe and not worry about the terror of this world. I pray for kids to remember what joy feels like—to remember fun times they’ve had to play with their friends and the freedom to go to school and not be afraid of dying. Bring back the comfort in these kids’ lives. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lord,
So many people have died and are suffering on both sides. God, I ask that You continue to provide for these people and that You would give them unnatural peace in the chaos. It would be so amazing to see pure bonds form out of what the enemy intends for evil and that they would turn to You. Lord, please give the leaders wisdom and bring this war to an end. This war has divided people all around the world from skewed media. Come through the darkness with more than enough evidence that will show what is truly evil. Help me to do what I can from here. Lord, bring hope, peace, strength, wisdom, and joy to all those affected right now. You are amazing, Lord. Amen.
Haiti:
May You draw close to the people of Haiti as much uncertainty clings to their lives. I don’t know what it’s like to live in violence, but I know what violence is, and what it can do to a person. I ask that You protect people in Haiti from the repercussions of the political instability as well as help them meet their physical needs. Send those who are willing and use the people already there who can help. There is a vast network of people who are willing—give them the means to put that into practice through Your work in Haiti. I pray for the single mothers and the orphans and the men who fight on both sides—to the grandmother, to the single father, to every soul in Haiti who is affected by this instability, by gang violence, and by hunger. I lift them to You.
Dear God,
We lift our thanks to You for all that You have done in this world. All the beautiful things, all things we can see and touch, thank You for all of it. Today, we lift Haiti and those living in that nation. How troubled they are, we do not exactly know—we could never feel their pain here, but You do. Would You bring peace? Would You move the hearts of people so that this internal conflict with gangs and instability is resolved? Thank You for already working amid all this suffering Lord. Let Your will be done. Amen.
Russia/Ukraine:
Lord,
Today I think a lot about my Oma and the struggles she faced in Ukraine as a kid—now she has lost her dad. How many have a similar story right now? Lord, I want to pray for peace, for hope, for protection. I pray that, like my Oma, Ukraine can have courage and feel Your presence. Our world is broken, God; I pray more would come to You and seek to share Your love and end suffering. Amen.
Awesome and Wonderful God,
I thank You for the blessings that You fill lives with each new day. God, I lift Ukraine to You. I thank You for the lives and families that You have protected during this time of crisis and that You continue to watch over them in Your loving mercy. God, I mourn the lost lives, both Ukrainian and Russian. I pray for peace over unsettled anxious and depressed hearts. Keep guard over our hearts. I love You, in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Lord,
I lift the Ukrainian people and country to You. Father, You see them and their need. You know the devastation, the loss, the suffering, and the ever-present fear. Lord, meet their needs, see them. Father, thank You for Your goodness, for seeing families and blessing them by allowing them to find security in our country. Lord, bless them, protect all families, and provide them with what they need. Show them Your nearness. Lord God, for the many families and people who aren’t able to find this security, cover them. Lord, show these people Your love, comfort, and peace. Let Your blessings be abundant through the people they are meeting, through their global neighbours, and Your people. Father, use us to make these people entering our country feel welcomed and seen. Lord God, place Your hand of blessing on the land and people of Ukraine. Lord, reach the lost, heal the broken, and make the land and the people whole again. Father, bless.
Yemen:
Abba,
I come before You to present Yemen into Your hands. With the ongoing civil war and violence, lives are being lost, people are being displaced… Lord, I pray for Your peace to take over this country. You have the power to turn things around! So Father, I plead for Yemen—come and rescue the people. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Myanmar:
Lord,
I specifically want to pray for Myanmar. Knowing so many people who have had to flee and leave behind friends and family—it’s heartbreaking to see. I pray for the safety of the innocent people in Myanmar caught in this crossfire. The Burmese people are suffering and don’t know who to turn to. I pray for the people there—that You would protect them and give them peace. I can’t imagine the constant worry and fear, leaving an emotional and physical toll. I pray that You would touch the hearts of the generals and people in charge of the military coup—that they would repent of their ways and have compassion on the people whom they have been hurting. I pray that this conflict can be fully resolved quickly. I pray that these families can be reunited, people can leave their homes without fear, and life can return to “normal” with thankfulness for Your protection and provision. Amen.
Jesus,
I pray for Myanmar, especially Kawthoolei village. I pray that Your presence will well over them amid hardship and darkness. I pray for internal leaders to rise and be restored for their people. I pray for strong immunity for all. May Your light shine in Myanmar.
God,
I know that in a world so broken there will always be conflict, but You are a God of miracles. The impossible does happen. As Myanmar gets forgotten by the world, I’m asking for miracles. Change the course of people’s lives and in doing so, change the course of the war. Would people wake up to Your spirit and power living inside them. Would it be a cascade that grows, would small miracles never stop happening, would people see who You are.
Central African Republic:
At the moment, people are facing a humanitarian crisis, and there are profound rates of violence. I pray that You are watching over these people. Make Yourself known, God. I pray for healing and peace. The distress, physically and mentally—I can’t even imagine, so Lord, have Your hand on them. Show them Your love. These people need You. Show Yourself to them, Lord.
Below is a link to the UN on how you can get involved in stopping global conflicts: