Saturday 28th February 2026
Fragility
There are several definitions of this word: the quality of being delicate or vulnerable, also the quality of being easily broken or damaged. As we enter 2026 I began to wonder just how many people and countries in our complex world could be said to be in a state of fragility.
We can think of physical and biological fragility, where health and well being have been threatened by illnesses, accidents, changing circumstances and conditions, when many face difficult decisions regarding their futures affecting themselves and those around them. We can think of those who are emotionally fragile, overwhelmed by difficult emotions of anxiety, sadness, grief or anger, often lost in the worlds they inhabit.
We can think of countries that live in different types of fragility be it economic, political, security, societal and environmental, and often a combination of many of these. A report written by the OECD in 2025 suggested that 2 billion people live in a state of fragility, most often affecting the world’s poorest people.
We can think of our environment, our precious planet facing so many threats and challenges, the fight for survival of species and habitats, often due to the mismanagement of humankind. The World Living Planet Index has estimated that there has been a 73% average decline in wildlife populations since 1970.
We remember in the face of all of these seemingly insurmountable problems the words from Paul’s Second letter to the Corinthians 12 v9: ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness’
In our mind’s eye we can picture snowdrops, this month bravely peeking through the cold earth to grace us with their elegant, fragile beauty. They remind us again that fragility often has a core of strength and the seeds of hope within it.
A prayer to share:
Father God, We come to You remembering the world that You have created, with its needs, its brokenness, its challenges and its opportunities. Rejoicing that every place is seen by You, every circumstance is understood by You and that every one is known to You and held constantly in Your love. We revel in the security and hope this knowledge brings.
We pray that countries work to share Your values and justice both internally and in their dealings with others. That international organisations help to promote development for all, compassion for those who suffer and peace to those facing conflict.
We lift up to You those individuals and families who are struggling in whatever difficulties they face. We pray they feel Your healing hand bringing comfort and relief, give them the vision to see Your way forward, allowing Your grace to flood their lives and Your gentle power to accompany them through the darkest of days.
We thank You for Your abiding presence in our lives, Your endless love that allows us to live this coming year in Your saving grace. We rest in the selfless example of Your Son, loving whatever the cost, treasuring us so much in choosing the way of the cross. We are aware of the constant presence of the Spirit, lifting our fragile states, prompting us to see Your glorious purpose for us and the world.
We bring this prayer and the unspoken prayers of our hearts to You today.
Amen.
Helen van Teutem
Newcastle District
