Just trying to put words on the screen brings tears to my eyes.
The horror gripping Newtown, Connecticut right now is incomprehensible and heart-wrenching.
And the unanswerable questions flash in garish neon across my mind:
• Why, God? Why didn’t you intervene?
• Where were you?
• How is it possible for such gross evil to take place?
Yes, scripture gives some answers.
• “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways,” declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8).
• “If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there” (Psalm 139:8).
• “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
But it’s not enough right now. Such abhorrent evil as was carried out in those kindergarten classrooms makes us sick. A few words of platitude don’t help. Not even scripture.
But this tragedy does have me thinking: What happened at Sandy Hook Elementary is an example of the dark wickedness any one of us is capable of—without Jesus.
Lord, have mercy on those suffering families and friends of Newtown. Yet, in the midst of great sadness, I thank you for the mercy you have already flooded upon us, in sending your Son, Jesus. He is indeed our way through calamity. He is our truth when no other truth suffices. And most glorious of all, he is our life—eternal life (John 14:6). We cling to you, Father, Son, and Spirit. Amen.
Nancy, thank you for putting on paper some of what I’ve been thinking these last couple of days. No it doesn’t make sense and yes, it is beyond heartbreaking. Those families that don’t have Him to cling to – they are the ones I pray for. Grief without hope is unimaginable to me…the darkest of dark things. And so I pray that they might see His mercy and grace and compassion in the believers who surround them. I pray that out of this will come salvation and healing. I pray for the gunman’s family. Their lives have been irreparably damaged and few will weep with them over the loss of a son and a brother and still fewer will come along side them to walk them through all those regrets and doubts after-the-fact. Even in THAT I pray for His light to bring comfort. Thank you, again, for so often putting on paper the things in my heart. Much love, Micki
And you, my dear, put into words additional impressions from my heart. Thank you for taking the time to express your thoughts, and to explain the essence of your prayers. As always, they reflect your wisdom and depth of spirit, which I so appreciate. Much love to you, too, Nancy
I kind of asked the same question, why does Jesus, let this happen to the little kids? Let it happen to the adults. The children have so much to live for. It’s not fair. Just writing this, i’m crying and it happened days ago. Some said because Jesus let us have free will. I hate free will. Jesus can stop people from doing things and he could have stopped the man/devil from killing the children. I know this world is getting worse and worse, but children? Sorry had to vent. I just don’t understand and don’t know that I ever will. It doesn’t stop me from loving Jesus, just wished there could have been another way to do what ever Jesus was trying to accomplish. Jesus can true a bad into good, I just pray some good comes out of this. Crying again, so emotional since my surgery. It just breaks my heart!
Amen to all you said, Nancy. I know God can’t intervene in every circumstance, or we’d have heaven on earth, and that’s not His plan. You’re right: 1) free will is certainly a factor, and 2) God *will* bring good out of this situation, horribly tragic as it is. Still…we question and we hurt. And most of all we wish it had never happened.
I am SO grateful, Nancy, that you mentioned that platitudes and even Scripture fail to help sometimes. I always feel really guilty when I fail to take comfort in his Word and when I question God and his wisdom during tragedies like this. For instance, how can it be God’s plan to have a beautiful child born only to die so young and in such an unfathomable way. But His ways are mysteries only to be revealed when we meet our Lord and Savior. And He knows that it is in our nature to question. Free will does, indeed, play a huge part in mankind’s actions. Right now, only He knows the reasons things happen as lives are inextricably intertwined with each other. Losing even one child may lead to the conversion of many… We just don’t know..
You are right: “Losing even one child may lead to the conversion of many.” And it’s a great comfort to know that child is only lost to us who are trapped on the finite side of reality. That child is free on the side of infinity!