I saw the image below today and I am heartbroken. News of what’s going on across Europe, in the Mediterranean, Greece, Calais, and so many other places, often washes over me with little afterthought or effect, but this I could not ignore.
His name was Aylan Kurdi. He was 3 years old, and he died alongside his 5 year old brother as their family tried to escape Syria and make it to Kos. You can read about it here and here.
I went upstairs, hugged both my children tightly, wept over them and prayed.
God of mercy,
Hear the prayers of your people.
Our hearts are breaking as day after day we see life after life disappear under the waves.
We know you God, and you are a loving and merciful God. Your heart is for the poor, the oppressed, the widow, the refugee, the orphan, the lost. We read it in your Word; we see it in the life of your Son the Lord Jesus; we know it by your Spirit groaning within us that this is not how things should be.
So we cry out to you for your mercy upon those who would risk their very lives to leave their homes and seek out new hope and a brighter future. By whatever means, by whatever purposes: Lord, save them.
Your Word tells us to pray for those in government and in power. Work by your Spirit in the hearts of those who have a voice; of those who control borders; of those who make laws. Give our governments a deep realisation that people cannot be simply labelled as migrants, described as swarms, or entered into spreadsheets as statistics: they are human beings, each one made in your very image. Give them compassion: Lord, change them.
God we ask that you would prevent those who seek to exploit from doing so. Those who treat human lives like commodities. Those who are sending people to their deaths for profit: Lord, bind them.
God, transform our hearts. We cannot as your people sit back and do nothing. Continue to break our hearts for what breaks yours; bring us to our knees in prayer; and give to us the resources required to respond to those in need: Lord, change us.
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
Amen.
David J Wilson 
The media often protect us from these pictures but sometimes we need to see them to make the problem actually sink in and affect our hearts. I heard about it but only now seeing this photo it really touches my heart – how hardened we have become. I am praying with you. Thank you for this.