Once more we grieve. This time at a PCA church school in Nashville. We ask once more, how can good come from senseless tragedy? How does the pastor of this church lead his people while mourning his little daughter, Hallie? How is the timing part of the tragedy as we prepare for Holy Week?
Without the resurrection of Jesus on Easter, we would mourn without hope. Only when we know that God still limits the power of satan or we could not possibly survive the chaos of this fallen world. God promises to be with those who mourn, those who suffer, those who assist, those whose hearts are pure, and those who risked their own lives to save lives.
I sang this hymn to myself yesterday:
“Blessed be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love/The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above./Before our Father’s throne, we pour our ardent prayers/ Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one/Our comforts and our cares/’We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear/and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear./ From sorrow, toil and pain and sin we shall be free/And perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity.”
MY PSALM 335 MASS MURDER
Following the nightclub shooting in Orlando and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting in Parkland, and now Covenant School in Nashville.
From everlasting to everlasting
You are Lord.
You alone are Sovereign.
You created us. You sustain all life.
You direct our paths,
You call us to Yourself.
You have told us to teach Your attributes
From one generation to another,
To proclaim Your honor to our children
And our children’s children.
When our little one asks,
After hearing a mournful orchestra piece,
‘Grandma, did someone die?”
And I confess to her that many people died
In Orlando, in Parkland, she answered,
“That makes me sad, Grandma.”
I try to teach her to live by Paul’s words:
“Do not be anxious about anything,
But in everything, by prayer and petition,
With thanksgiving,
Present your requests to God, And the peace of God
Which transcends all understanding,
Will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”[1]
I try to be an encourager, to make my heart believe
That the right will succeed,
That all will be all right for my loved ones,
When I repeat over and over,
Sinking this truth into my heart.
It often gets dashed by the evil around me.
I too say, like my sweet grandbaby,
“That makes me sad.”
Yet once more I read
And Your Word tells me once again:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right
Whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent
Or praiseworthy—think on these things.”[2]
We pray for redemption, for revival.
Even today, change our hearts.
Let those who serve and encourage
Find their strength in You.
Lord, forgive us for our lack of love,
Keep us close to Your precepts.
Your covenant says You shall be our God
And we shall be Your people.
Let our hearts not be hardened by the world,
But continually renew a right spirit in us,
Keeping our eyes fixed on You,
The author and finisher of our faith.
We thank You, in Jesus’ Precious Name. Amen.
[1] Philippians 4: 6-7
[2] Philippians 4: 8
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