School Shooting and a Call to Christians

My heart is broken. This, my readers, is a sad day. For those of you that haven't turned on the news today, I'll fill you in: this morning, a 20-year-old man went into a Connecticut elementary school and shot almost 30 people (confirmed at the time of me writing this; I pray that no more are added to the number), many of them children.

When tragedies like this arise, it brings many questions to the forefront of our minds. Why would he shoot those people? Why little kids? How did he get in? Where is God, and why did He allow this to occur?

I'm not writing this post to answer any of that. I don't know the answers to any of these questions, especially when it comes to why God allowed this to occur. If anyone tells you they have the answer to that, they're lying. We don't get it, and likely never will.

All I know is a few things: God is sovereign over all. This didn't sneak up on Him. Simultaneously, people are sinful and naturally inclined to do evil. Sometimes this evil ends up being something that words cannot properly express.

So, today, I do not call for Christians to start debates. I do not believe now is the time to get into massive amounts of discussion about God's soveriegn control, man's sinfulness, and how all of that correlates. There's a time and place for that, but now isn't the time for us to argue about that. Now is also not the time to rant about gun laws and restrictions.

No, now is the time to love and pray, and give it all up to God.

Now is the time to pray for the families of the victims.

Now is the time to pray for the survivors.

Now is the time to pray for public officals and service workers that are dealing with this.

Now is the time to pray for the shooter's family and friends.

Now is the time to pray for our world, and the brokeness that needs fixing.

Now is the time to lift all of it up to God and say, "God, fix this. I know all is in your timing, but we are yearning for your return. God, we are heartbroken, and we know you are good. We don't understand why this has happened, but may you, in some way, be glorified in this."

May we, as Christians, put down our stupid issues and just love these people. May we be His hands and feet in this tragedy. May we be the crying shoulder for the broken, the comfort for the saddened, and the light to this world.

May we shine bright, Church, in this dark world. We carry the gospel of light in this world; may we hold the light up in grace and love during this time of mourning in our nation.

We don't have the answers. All we can do is pray, trust in God, and show His love toward those affected. Let us do that.