A time of grief
Hello,
There are some news stories for which words feel painfully inadequate.
On Thursday, three children and a teacher were killed in a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. Another child and teacher were critically injured.
Faced with such horror, Christians can sometimes feel pressure to offer an explanation. But perhaps our first response should not be to explain. It should just be to grieve.
When Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend Lazarus and witnessed the anguish of those around him, Scripture records two of its shortest yet most profound words: “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35 NIV)
Jesus knew that resurrection was coming, but he still wept. He did not stand apart from human sorrow or offer easy answers. The Son of God entered fully into our suffering and shared our tears.
The resurrection does not make tragedy less tragic. It declares that tragedy will not have the final word.
So let us pray for the families whose lives have been devastated, for the injured, for the school community and for all those responding to this terrible event. But let us also allow our prayers to move us towards action: to protect the vulnerable, comfort those who mourn, oppose violence and become peacemakers wherever God has placed us.
Kind regards,
Gavin
About the Writer:
Gavin Henderson is the National Ministry Leader for GCI in the UK and Ireland.