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trag·e·dy (n) 

1. An event causing great suffering, destruction, and distress

My intentions for the blog this week were going to be completely different, but in light of recent events I felt this was needed. When tragedies happen we always want to immediately know why. We want to know why someone could be filled with so much hate to commit such a heinous act, and we typically want someone/something to blame.

However, more often than not, we begin to ask, “why, God? How could you allow this to happen?” Today, I found myself reading a comment that said, “yeah, real great God you have, allowing 50+ innocent people to be murdered? He must be pretty weak. [Christians are] delusional.”

Did this statement infuriate me and make me defensive? No. This statement made me hurt for this person. I hurt so badly for this soul that is so completely lost without our sweet Jesus. I found myself wondering just how many people are thinking the exact same things as that man, and how I so badly want for them to know the healing and peace that our Savior can bring. We have become so completely divided as a nation and a world, but God calls us to love one another.

In 1 John 3:18 we are told, “Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” As Christians, this means we must act in the love God has shown us. We can’t become “social media Christians” who say we’re praying for something or someone and never actually sit down and pray with intention. We can’t talk about seeing people through the eyes of the One who created them and then go out and mistreat others, or make unnecessary comments on social media toward a person or group of people. 2 Timothy 2:24 says, “And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome, but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.”

When horrible things happen, especially one as horrific as in Las Vegas, it’s easy for people to blame God when they don’t know Him. Honestly, it’s even sometimes easy for us to do the same. It can be so difficult to fathom why the God we praise and the God who radiates grace doesn’t make all the bad things disappear. Guys, we have to remember this – God gave mankind free will; the ability to make our own choices. And, there is this other thing in the world – SIN. The enemy of our God is always and constantly at work in and against all of us. There is evil and it is real.

What happened in Las Vegas is painful and heartbreaking. I can’t imagine what families, friends, and loved ones of the victims are experiencing. My heart breaks for them and longs for Jesus. This world is not our home. I know there are no words I can say to truly help anyone. All I want is to offer prayer and comfort from God’s Word because He has never failed and never will. Rest in His promises and the Word.

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
• Psalm 145:13 “…The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises, and faithful in all he does.”
• John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
• Psalm 37:28 “For the Lord loves the just and he will not forsake his faithful ones.”
• John 16:33 “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Lord, we love you. You are almighty and powerful and you never fail. The things that are happening in our world today are scary and heartbreaking, but we know you have already overcome the things of this world. God, help us to rest in the promises you have made. We know you have already won the battle. Help us to love our brothers and sisters as you first loved us in the midst of all the hateful divisiveness in our world, and I pray that hearts find You. Lord, thank you for sending your Son to die for our own sickness of sin. Thank you for the promise and gift of eternal life. Give us an eternal perspective, Lord, and help us to remember that our time on this earth is but a fleeting second in comparison to eternity with You. In Your Name, amen.

Your sister in Christ – kayley jean, a wife redeemed