Prayers for Newtown

Scripture I'm reflecting on:  Psalm 34:18
     "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
          he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

I've searched through notes I've made through my Scripture readings to find something appropriate to offer after the tragedy of today.  This verse is one of many that offers hope.  Hope for healing.  Hope for restoration.  No words, not even from the Bible, can offer instant healing for something like this.  But it can give hope, hope that we need to enhance through prayer.

There is no refletion here.  Only one more prayer for the families, the victims, and the community.  I am at an age where I have seen a fair number of these horrific tragedies.  I remember spending a whole school day watching the 9/11 coverage, I remember waiting by my phone to find out if my friends at Virginia Tech were ok, Columbine, Movie theatre shooting.  As horrific as these were, I can't remember any of these hitting my heart like watching the coverage of this tragedy.  Watching footage of our nation's youth, 5-8 year olds, being interviewed about a gumnan in their school, made my eyes, and I'm sure so many of yours, well up instantaneously.

Through watching the "coverage" of this event, I've seen news media outlets looking for "answers", seeking "expert opinions" on what caused this, what could have prevented this, and so on.  Some stations went as far as bringing up gun control, others brought up our need to increase care for the mentally ill.  And I guess this is our natural reaction to bad situations.  But the bottom line is that this act was simply an act of pure evil.  A human being, who loaded up an arsenal, and put on a bullet proof vest, to go into an elementary school and execute 27+ people, 20 of them under the age of 10, and one being his own mother... cannot be described as anything but pure evil.  The only way to respond to this is through prayer.  Through looking up to Him.  There's no law, there's no preventative action, that couldve prevent an evil of this kind.  God is the only one who can respond to this type of evil, to restore good, and to prevent further evil.

Pray for these families.  Pray for this community.  And don't lose faith in light of these tragic times.  It is so easy, and so natural, to start preaching "Why God?" and "How could You let this happen" in times like this.  Don't.  Have faith that God will restore.  Believe that God will make things right.  And support His efforts through prayer and faith.

Your prayer for these families matter.  Your prayer for these victims matter.  And your prayers, our prayers collectively, are what will get this country through tragedies of this nature.  Your prayer matters.  Make sure it is heard.



"Father, I pray for all of those impacted by today's  horrible tragedy.  Blanket those in mourning with your mercy, compassion, hope, and peace."