Today I need to take a break from my Sweet & Simple Christmas Series. I’ll resume tomorrow, but my heart is broken right now. I’m trying to make sense of something that has no sense. And I’m grieving with those who are grieving due to the horrific shootings last week in Newtown, Connecticut.
And so today, it just didn’t feel right to act as if nothing happened.
As I’ve cried my own tears and mourned with those who lives will never be the same, God continued to bring this passage to mind from Matthew 2:
“When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
This is the world Jesus came to 2,000 years ago. A world where evil people hurt innocent children. A world of greed, anger and murder. A world of grief that nothing can assuage.
And this is the world today.
What happened in Sandy Hook Elementary School makes no sense. We will never understand how someone could do this. Oh how I wish I could wrap my arms around a mother missing her beautiful daughter and bring her comfort. Or a father who will never throw a ball with his son. Or children who are missing a parent tonight. I feel so helpless.
In the midst of so many questions there are two things that bring me comfort:
1) God will avenge the innocent. Romans 12 has some amazing insight for us. If you have time today, please read it. Verse 19 says, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
I’ll be very transparent with you, one of my initial reactions upon hearing about the killings was a desire for revenge. Sorrow was there initially, but immediately after that I was angry. Apparently God has given me a bit of a warrior spirit. There is something very fierce that rises up within me when the vulnerable are attacked. But I know I can’t let my mind sit on those thoughts in this instance. I must set them aside and trust that God has got this one under control. Justice will be done.
2) Jesus was the answer 2,000 years ago and He’s the answer today. Jesus is our hope. Jesus gave us access to the Father who controls all things. Jesus paid our debt so we can look forward to heaven. Jesus reminds us this is not our home. Jesus is the hope that we will be reunited with those who have gone ahead of us to be with God. And Jesus is our healer … emotionally, spiritually and physically.
I know this blog post is inadequate. Please forgive me if it sounds like I know anything. I just know I’m lost without Jesus.
Please join me in praying for the families who have an empty bed in their homes today and Christmas presents that won’t be unwrapped. And for all those who are traumatized by what they saw, heard and experienced.
It’s right to mourn with those who are mourning. And that’s what I’m doing today.
In His love,
Glynnis
P.S. A friend of mine, Rachel Wojnarowski, is making her ebook, A Christmas Devotional for the Hurting, available for free this week. It’s in e-book form and you can read about it by clicking here. Maybe this might be a resource if your heart is hurting too.
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
Glynnis, This was the right message to post today. Thank you for your sensitivity.
Thank you and I’m very grateful for the link to Rachel’s book. I also like your line about having a warrior spirit! Maybe that’s what I’ve got too!
We are all undone by this so great a loss. I needed this, especially remembering that Jesus was the answer to the senseless murder of children 2,000 years ago and He is the answer today. Yes, our country needs answers to how we could have come so far down a path where we allow evil to target our most vulnerable. “All it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” Edmund Burke. It is time to turn around….and look at Jesus for our salvation.
It is amazing how God speaks to us! This is the same scripture that was shared with us in church yesterday. So thankful God is our hope! Praying for the families of Newtown!
This was a perfect post! I feel like most of your blogs are right in line with my feelings, moods and family life and this was no disappointment. I will be meeting with my Moms in Prayer group today for our regular Monday meeting. I assure you the families in CT will be our focus. Thank you for a few more words to add to our list.
Glynnis, thank you for this post today. Clinging to Jesus today and praying, praying, praying!
Good morning and thank you! Spoke to my heart in a time that the world doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Thank you, Glynis. Your words shall reach many, and your words are sound. Bless you.
Thank you Gynnis, My heart needed this – so many emotions are going through my soul. I was so Glad to see your post.
The evil in this world saddens me as well. I know that this will be most unpopular, but I can’t help but feel sadness for the lost boy who created this tragedy, sad that he will be forever lost. I think that God grieves as well. I can’t help but be reminded of the man whom everyone feared, filled with the demons in the cemetery, and how when Jesus drove out the demons into the pigs, the man was so thankful. This boy will never know that healing. How sad when even one of God’s children are lost. I know that there aren’t many who will grieve for him, I guess that’s why I feel compelled. I grieve as well for all of the children and the families….it is just so senseless….but then, that’s Satan.
I think that your view is a beautiful one! Too often we don’t look at every single person as either going to heaven or hell and yes it is sad that this boy was lost. It is all so tragic and makes me long to be in heaven where there will no longer be sin. God bless you!
Dear Glynnis, whenever I read your blog, I feel as though we are connected as sisters in Christ. The same Scripture from Matthew 2 has been heavily weighing on my mind and on my heart since news of Friday’s very painful and senseless tragedy affected our entire nation. In a sad way, it often seems that, “There is nothing new under the sun,” (Ecclesiates 1), but the Lord is powerfully making us aware that He alone is our hope and our salvation, and our reliance must be completely on Him. Here is an encouragement for your heart: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4) . May God’s peace reign in our hearts. God bless you and the work you do!
Dear Glynnis,
These words that you have written have touched me. Touched my soul. If I was ever going to write about what happened at Sandy Creek Elementry School these would have been the words. So heartfelt. So right on. Thank you for your heart and for sharing. I have shared this on my timeline on facebook. I feel everyone needs to be aware of your words so they can know how to react as the days go by.
God bless you.
Bunnie
God knew I needed to read these words and remember Jesus’ sorrowful world.
Thank you!
Thank you, Thank you
Dearest Glynnis,
Thank you for this posting today. The blog today is not inadequate; you shared your heart and paused a great Christmas blog as we all remember 20 little children and 6 teachers slain without comprehension. I cannot imagine a day if my grown stepson did NOT come home. What I take away from this is…more hugs and kisses, more I love you’s, more prayer for each other, our families and nation. Blessings to all.
Glynnis,
How Amazing that we and many others have to come to the scriptures with the exact story and even one of Moses. It is truly the way God can comfort us. Thank you for your post! I too was angry and even posted on my FB to take a break from looking at FB. With well intentions, many people are posting pictures of those lost in order to remember them, but my heart is simply too heavy to look at them and then look at my 6 year old and know that I am blessed beyond words. I decided to not “be” on FB this week and rather than scroll through the pictures and stories, I would like the beautiful candle that sits on my table every night and pray for comfort, healing, and understanding for all of these families and for those who have gone through this at other times–alone. It is my way of commemorating and sharing with my son, the blessings and miracles we have in our life and praying for those who are hurting!
Very fitting words, Glynnis.
I don’t think we’ll ever know “why” it happened…our pastor pointed out yesterday that there is evil in the world due to sin…and it makes no sense. Thank God we have Him to turn to, to lean on, to pray to.
The words of Jesus in Matthew have been on my mind: “Let your light shine.” You are letting your light shine by typing the words you did in this post. We can all let our lights shine Jesus’ love with a prayer, a kind word, a smile. No matter how “small” it seems, we are doing what Jesus instructed us to do and we are making a difference when we shine His love.
Thank you Glynnis. I needed to hear that ‘It’s right to mourn with those who are mourning.’ I have been grieving and mourning with you since Friday. And I pray that the promises you so clearly remind us of are a beacon of hope for everyone.
Amen, I appreciate your heartfelt words. An elder at our church said she felt that we needed to get on our knees & pray for that community & our schools and our country as well! So, I ask & pray that all of you would do just that. Take a moment out of your busy schedules and let’s lift up this community as well as our children in the schools and our country!
Bonnie, I also will light a candle!
Blessings to all of you and may His light shine ever so brightly!
Thank you for posting this. It helps! Hugs to you today.
This is such a heart breaking tragedy that has happened. We are all grieving over what has happened. God bless everyone whose lives are now devastated by what has happened at Sandy Hook Elementary. My daughter has just lost her friend this past Saturday. He hung himself age 15!!! Over a girlfriend! It’s so hard not to accuse and judge, and want to seek your own vengeance. But we must allow God to take vengeance. These are very horrrific situations for families,friends,teachers, communities, and our nation. Our children and loved ones need to be prayed for every day, without ceasing. God bless
One more thing please pray for the girlfriend of this 15 year old boy. She is on suicide watch, because she tried to commit suicide after finding out about her boyfriend hanging himself. Thank you so very much, Deborah Paez
I needed to see this today. I have been completely undone by this horrific thing and needed some words of comfort and understanding. And to know that I am not alone in being a stranger to this community but hurting for them all the same.
I quoted Romans 12:21 to my son this morning on the way to school as we discussed what he may possibly hear. Thank you Glynnis! This was absolutely an on time message. Jesus -the Word if God – is the answer for every situation!
Words are simply so inadequate at times of crisis, such as this. I reminded my Sunday School class Sunday that God put within each of us a need for someone to look up to, believe in, trust, follow and have a relationship with. Man, in his own wisdom has decided that need which God intended to fill is better served with political correctness and taking God out of schools, courts and anywhere else to be found. This creates a vacuum in a persons life and soul for those who do not know Christ as their own personal Savior. Satan is more than happy and eager to jump in and fill that vacuum with his evil. We don’t need gun control. We need God control to come back to America.
Jesus