A Vaccine: a Miracle?

In our Team meeting prayers, one colleague suddenly surprised us all by saying, ‘let’s pray for a miracle, let’s pray for a vaccine to overcome Covid 19 very soon’. It took us by surprise as it has been a long time since we had prayed for a miracle in such a manner. Perhaps we have all become so used to praying in a more open way for situations and people, but we hold back from praying for miracles.

 

And now it seems as though this miracle may be becoming a reality. The vaccine research is going very well. Scientists, barely able to suppress their joy, were interviewed on the News programmes yesterday explaining how tests show that vaccine in development has produced antibodies to counteract the virus. The government released a statement yesterday to say that they have secured early access to 90 million doses of promising coronavirus vaccine treatments. So our newspapers today proclaim ‘a Vaccine by Christmas’.

Then there’s also good news on the discovery that inhaling the drug Beta interferon can invigorate our natural defences once one has the virus and can enable a patient to avoid going into intensive care. I hope and pray that we will have the amazing miracle of a vaccine very soon so that we can stay safe but also that we can live life more fully.

 

Heavenly Father, we thank you that your work of healing continues in our world and in our lives. And we praise you for the hope offered by the treatments currently being developed and tested. Prosper, we pray, the work of those seeking a vaccine which will counteract this dangerous virus.

Lord, we do not always know how to pray aright, our perceptions are so limited and our faith can be fragile. We do not feel it is right to try to tell you what to do as you have a far wider vision, but we know that you hear the cries of your people and that your will for us is good, stemming from eternal love. Teach us to bring our needs to you and lay them at your feet that your will may be done, in Jesus’ name.

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4.6-7