A public figure is speaking at a university event when a pop rings out. Lives are changed in a split second. Fear spreads across campus. People grieve, people rage, and everyone asks a one-word question: Why?
Political figures start to condemn the violence and social media floods with the posts and reactions of the one who lost his life.
I’m not saying this as a political call to rally. But as a call to pray.
We can post on our Instagram stories as much as our hearts desire but talking to the Creator is a different kind of vulnerable. We can give Him our worries and anxiety, and He listens. Prayer is the communication of the saints, and we must never stray from it.
For those who feel a deep hatred to those who take human life, pray for them. Almost 30% of the New Testament is written by a man who took human life because of other’s belief in Jesus.
Can you imagine the thoughts of those who heard that Saul of Tarsus killed a man who had faith in the Lord, gave alms to the poor, and had children? All of the fear they felt, the anger, the confusion. And yet this same man encountered Jesus on the Damascus road and became Paul, the apostle.
At this moment, we must not forget one simple thing.
Jesus died for even that person.
Jesus died for the murderer.
Jesus died for the cheater.
Jesus died for the abuser.
Jesus died for even that person.
So pray. Pray for the wounded. Pray for the grieving. And yes, pray for the one who pulled the trigger, because they need Jesus just as much as we do.
