From Crisis to Prayer

Every day, the situation in our village and in many parts of Thailand is becoming more difficult. Gasoline stations have been closed for several days at a time, and when they open even for just one day, the queues are extremely long.

I uploaded a video above showing the long line of vehicles waiting at the gasoline station. That morning, I had to be in the queue as early as 5:30AM just to have a chance to fill my truck. Even at that hour, many vehicles were already waiting. Each vehicle is limited to only 500 baht worth of fuel, which is often not enough to meet our daily transportation needs, especially for those who rely on their vehicles for ministry, farming, or businesses.

What I found in my reading that Thailand relies heavily on imported energy, bringing in around 80–90% of its crude oil from the Middle East, including countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, although supplies also come from other regions. Because of this dependence, disruptions in major shipping routes, especially in critical areas like the Strait of Hormuz can quickly affect fuel supply and prices nationwide. 

With the ongoing conflict and the increasingly dangerous situation in that region, many petroleum companies have temporarily suspended shipments. No company is willing to risk sending billion-dollar vessels carrying highly flammable cargo into unstable conditions. Even small, low-flying drones can pose a serious threat. These devices are difficult to detect and intercept, yet they are capable of causing significant damage to oil tankers, leading to enormous financial loss.

As I continue to follow the news...

the situation appears to be growing more complex, especially when it comes to ending the conflict. If this continues for several more weeks, it raises serious concerns about how Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries will cope.

We are already experiencing the ripple effects. Fuel shortages are disrupting our daily life, and at the same time, the prices of food and basic goods continue to rise...

But those who will be affected most quickly and most severely are the marginalized. These are the families who already have very little. They live day to day, with limited income, no savings, and little room for sudden increases in cost. When fuel prices rise, transportation becomes more expensive. When transportation costs increase, the price of food and essential goods also rises. 

What may feel like inconvenience for some becomes a real burden for others. The crisis exposes an existing reality: those with the least are often the first to suffer and the hardest hit.

This is not happening here alone my family in the Philippines has shared that they are facing similar challenges. 

So what can we do?

We pray. 

Yes! 

At times like this, it may feel like we cannot do much.
We may think that praying is the only thing left and sometimes it can even feel like it is not enough.
But prayer is not doing nothing.
Prayer is not a last resort.
It is our first response.

So, we pray. 
We pray for wisdom for our leaders and for those directly involved in this situation.
We pray for provision for families who are struggling.
We pray that this soon will pass. 

“Is anyone among you in trouble? 

Let them pray.”

--James 5:13