The View from My Place – “Thoughts and Prayers”

Rage! Sorrow! Anguish! 21 precious lives – 19 of them children – violently, senselessly extinguished in a moment of diabolical decision. The perpetrator, a slightly older version of the young lives he ended, was gunned down himself by law enforcement. As a stunned nation grapples with this malevolent event the reactions are predictably diverse with respect to the cause of it. One in particular is of concern to me. It goes something like this, “I’m tired of thoughts and prayers. We need to DO something!” I understand! I picture my own children and grandchildren in the place of those whose lives were snatched from them. In the devastation of the parents and grandparents I see my own heart torn to pieces. I also know that nothing can be done to give those who are directly affected by this tragedy what they want most: those precious lives returned.

There are no words of consolation, there is no amount of compensation, there is no spiritual explanation, there is no political action, indeed there is no power on earth that can heal the gaping wound in their hearts. But whatever else our collective consciousness may consider as “doing something,” as believers let us not lose sight of prayer as a practical and even vital action. For our prayers are not mere sentimental mantras spoken into the atmosphere to a nebulous entity and having no effect. No, our prayers are directed to the living God, whose reality was manifested in the person Jesus Christ. Our audience is with the creator of heaven and earth, and every “thought and prayer” directed to Him has been heard and honored. Only He knows the chain of events set off by this horrific event. One thing is for certain: lives will be forever changed, some for the better, some for the worse. My prayer is that these beloved families will know the Lord’s nearness in a way they never thought possible. For “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” My prayer is that His consolation will do what no human agency can, provide the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding and set them on a course of growing intimacy with Him for the rest of their lives.