Siblings in Christ,
As heavy as our hearts are, as grieved as we are, as angry as we are, we cannot know the depth of the pain being felt by the parents, grandparents, guardians, loved ones and friends of the children and teachers who were murdered in Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Their grief and our grief is complicated by the fact that as a nation we have not yet healed from the pain and grief of the recent mass shootings at the Tops grocery store in Buffalo, New York and the Geneva Presbyterian Church in Laguna, California where the Taiwanese congregation was worshipping.
In the words of the hymn written by long-time Erie, Pennsylvania resident Ruth Caye Jones:
In times like these you need a Savior. In times like these you need an anchor. Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips the solid rock.
The community of Uvalde needs a Savior to comfort them as they walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Those who have perpetrated or are contemplating such atrocities need a Savior to heal their mental illness, if that is the source of their actions. Or, if their actions have been motivated by pure evil, they need a Savior to release them from their bondage to sin and death. Our country needs a Savior to grace us with the wisdom and unity needed for us to work together to end mass shootings in the midst of our different beliefs about the most effective ways to do that.
In the final stanza of her hymn, Jones provides us with the comfort and assurance needed to help us travel through this season of grief, anger, and pain.
In times like these (we) have a Savior. In times like these (we) have an anchor.” About this I am very sure. Scripture affirms that we have a Savior who is acquainted with grief and sorrow (Isaiah 53:3) and weeps with us (John 11).
In recent months I have experienced that we have a Savior in times like these. I have felt our Savior’s comfort through you as I continue on my personal journey of grief in the wake of my mother’s transition.
Jesus, our Savior, is the only one who will lead us through our individual and collective grief as a country. So, let’s collectively call on his name, ask for his comfort, and discern his wisdom.
Almighty God, our hearts are broken, our grief is overwhelming. We surrender all of these feelings to you. We pray for the members of Robb Elementary School community. Comfort and bless them. Overwhelm them with Your love.
We pray for the safety and peace of all of our children and their teachers who are now fearful about walking into school buildings. Help us as a nation to show our children that we value them. Help us unify around a common desire to protect their lives.
God, we pray for those who might be contemplating doing harm to anyone this day. In the name of Jesus, we speak against the strongholds that are attempting to imprison their hearts and minds. Free them, in the name of Jesus.
God, we know the power of the name of Jesus. We have experienced that power and know that in times like these, we need Jesus. We are trusting and believing in You to see us through. Amen.
