How many times can I lament the horrors of evil and injustice in this world? How many times can I sit down at my computer to put words of sorrow on paper before my heart breaks? How many times must we raise our voices in prayer, crying out to God for an end to these devastating events?
I don’t know if my heart can bear another tragedy. How do you process sudden and inexplicable loss of life in these ways? How do you overcome the deep pain and sadness? How is my heart supposed to bear the destruction?
The pain and sadness that I feel as an observer is small compared to those are directly affected. Uvalde is not my direct community. Buffalo is not my direct community. Laguna Woods is not my direct community. I can’t imagine the devastation that is felt by those in the communities. For them, it probably feels like the world is going to end. It probably feels like the pain will never go away. I can’t imagine what that feels like.
The only thing I can do is pour out my heart at the feet of Jesus. He is the only one who can fix it. He is the only one who can comfort and heal. He invites us to bring the pain and sadness to him. And so I bow at his feet, and I cry out from the core of my being:
Lord, comfort the parents whose children’s lives were cut short.
Lord, comfort the loved ones of those who were murdered while buying food for the family.
Lord, comfort the family and friends of those who were killed during their worship service.
Lord, please bring the shooters to justice.
Lord, please heal our world of the wounds of racism and hate that lead to this kind of evil.
Lord, please give leaders wisdom as they try to help their communities recover.
Lord, may the Christians in this community reach out with boldness.
Lord, please reveal yourself to those who commit these crimes. Stop the evil before it spreads.
Lord, comfort and reveal yourself to the families of the shooters.
Lord, remind us all that life is precious and that we must live for you.
Lord, comfort the brokenhearted.
♥️🙏 Amen!