(SHE-uh) – This year in June, during a time called Muharram, Iraqi Shia communities will enter a time of deep remembrance, mourning, and spiritual reflection. As they commemorate the legacy of their Muslim prophet, Hussain, of long ago and the suffering endured at an Iraqi city called Karbala, emotions of grief, devotion, and longing for justice are especially strong. Pray that God will draw near to those carrying personal and collective sorrow, and ask that this sorrow will lead to a desire to know the Giver of Peace. Ask the Lord to protect communities gathering for commemorations, processions, and acts of devotion, granting safety and calm in a region that has known much unrest. Also pray that God will reveal His mercy and truth in ways that Iraqi Shia hearts can understand — through dreams, relationships, Scripture, and the quiet work of the Holy Spirit. May this season of mourning become a doorway to hope, spiritual healing, and deeper longing for the peace that only He can provide.