5 tips for those grieving during the holidays
The chances of five individuals surviving an underwater exploration are dwindling. An OceanGate, Inc. trip down to the wreckage of the RMS Titanic has gone missing, along with the five passengers onboard. Experts say they have enough air to possibly survive until Thursday. God is the author of life and is the One who creates everyone in the womb. He loves and cares for those missing. He died on Calvary for those missing. It is the responsibility and call of every Christian to pray for their safe rescue.
OceanGate founder Stocktown Rush, along with Hamish Harding (British businessman), Shahzada Dawood (Pakistani businessman), Suleman Dawood (Shazada Dawood’s 19-year-old son), and Paul-Henry Nargeolet (French explorer) are those onboard the missing sub. The Lord has promised that whatever we ask that we receive. (Mark 11:24) Although we may not know exactly what to ask for in this situation, we can beg the Lord to rescue these individuals and ask the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers. (Romans 8:26)
Here is a suggested prayer for those missing: “Lord, Holy God, you are the author and perfector of life. You are the one who breathes life into our lungs and sustains our life. You have no limit to the resources or miracles available to rescue these individuals. Lord, we pray you give them peace and a sense of your presence. Calm their fears, Almighty and Holy God. Lord, give them wisdom to know how to increase their chances of survival while they wait on rescuers.
God, Eternal Father, you have parted the seas and calmed the storms of life. We pray you part the blurry and murky vision of the rescuers and give them clarity and clear sight. We implore you, Oh Lord, to safely rescue Stockton Rush, Hamish Harding, Shahzada Dawood, Suleman Dawood, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet.”
Although this may be the first time many individuals have heard of OceanGate, Inc., this is not its first trip to the RMS Titanic wreckage. OceanGate is a private company operating out of Everett, Washington, that provides crewed submersibles for industry, research, and exploration. In 2021, OceanGate launched its commercial trips for paying customers to visit the Titanic shipwreck in its Titanic Submersible.
In addition to the suggested prayer above, you can also implore the intercession of St. Brendan, the patron saint of sailors, mariners, boatmen, navigators, and travelers. St. Brendan was an early Irish monastic saint mainly known for his legendary voyage to find the “Isle of the Blessed.” The Isle is also referred to as “Saint Brendan’s Island.” The prayer for St. Brendan’s intercession could be an adaptation of a prayer attributed to him that he prayed prior to his travel to the Isle:
“St. Brendan, patron saint of mariners, sailors, and explorers, intercede for those lost on OceanGate. Obtain from the Lord an ability for them to trust God to allow them to be stronger than this storm. Seek that they will trust God in the darkness and know that at this time, even in the darkness, they are in the Almighty’s hand. Tune their spirit to the music of heaven and somehow, make their obedience count for the Lord. St. Brendan, pray for them.”