I was just listening to the radio and they were speaking of the innocent children that were killed in Texas. It’s just devastating. I can’t even pretend to put myself in the shoes of those parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or community members to understand what they are going through.
My first thought, if I’m being completely transparent, was to be grateful it didn’t happen at the school here, and the second thought was that I was glad all of my children have graduated. Those thoughts don’t make me a bad person or a bad Christian. They make me human. However, in that moment directly following, I realized those thoughts hurt God’s heart and are sinful because they go directly against what the bible tells us to do.
Romans 15:1 says, “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.”
And Psalm 143:8 tells us, “Let me hear Your lovingkindess in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.”
Both verses speak directly against what I thought. My thoughts were built around fear and mistrust. They were rooted in self and not rooted in Christ. As believers, we are called to bear the weaknesses of those without strength. I bet those family members, those friends, that community are without strength. Suffering a senseless loss brings unimaginable pain, and during this time Christians are called to lift them up.
Perhaps it means to write a letter or send a card to them. Maybe you’ve gone through something like this and can relate to them on a more personal level that can help. It could possibly mean writing your representative or senator. And it could mean that we just pray. Pray hard. Pray faithfully. Pray fervently.
The second thought speaks directly to mistrust towards God. I long for my children to always be safe, but the truth is, my children are His. He knows the hairs on their heads and the last breaths they will take. I must lay aside the fear and trust that God will see them through, no matter the outcome. They’re safe from school now that they’ve graduated but it doesn’t mean that the same thing won’t happen in a local grocery store or outside a gas station. I must trust Him in all things. I will never be able to completely protect my children, but our God will protect them whether it’s this side of heaven or the other.
Please be praying for the victims’ families as they grieve. Lift them up to the Lord and do it often. My desire is that they will be so covered in prayer by believers all over this world that there will be a tangible feeling of God’s love surrounding them.
~Erin
Iron Porch 