Instilling Hope in Dark Times

We are becoming too familiar with situations like yesterday's STEM school shooting in our community.  What is to be our message after tragedy like yesterday's?  First and foremost we mourn and weep.  We cry out, come Lord Jesus, come.  When we see politicians admonish those who send their prayers, we know that we pray to the God of the Universe, who hears our prayers and who knows our's and the community's suffering.  So we pray with boldness and conviction to our God who hears our prayers.

The fix for things like this is ultimately a new creation, when there will be no more mourning, no more suffering.  But as we wait, what is our answer?  Politically, financially, legally and legislatively we are obligated to, with wisdom, use our votes and resources wisely as Christians.  Spiritually, our's is a message of hope and love in the gospel of Jesus.  We must share it.  It takes work to get to this in the lives of our "neighbors", but we cannot be silent, we must not be silent.

My grandparents and parents regularly have mentioned how different it is to raise kids today than it was "back in the day".  I understand that to be true.  How do we walk our children, grandchildren and youth in our church through events like this?  Patiently, by listening and asking questions about what they are thinking and feeling, by explaining what scripture teaches about sin and suffering, about redemption and one day about the final restoration that those who are in Christ will experience.  

I have included some helpful links for you to check out.

Preparing kids and adults to suffer  Audio by Cameron Cole

Teaching a theology of suffering in the midst of school shootings  Article by Kendal Conner

Many other helpful articles found here.

Maranatha!