Like many other folks, when I heard the news on Friday, I was stunned, I cried, I prayed, I hugged my children (especially my five year old), I asked “why?” and I cried and prayed some more. The tears have lessened but the prayers continue.
It is interesting to observe how people respond to such news. My Facebook page was full of prayers and support for the families who lost loved ones. But it was also pretty full of folks that said the news was more than they could bear and that they had no plans to watch the TV or listen to the news. I think I can understand both perspectives.
I have chosen not to watch every single news story about this horrible event (I’m sure I’ll watch some… but I’m intentionally not going to be pulled into every heartbreaking story there will be, though they all deserve to be told.). The sheer tonnage of information is too overwhelming, not to mention devastating. However, I have chosen to pray for the families and community in Newtown every single day for as long as the Spirit leads me.
And yet, not being glued to the TV and Internet to saturate myself in ongoing news reports and human interest stories doesn’t mean I am going to bow out of the conversation. Indeed, as a Christian I believe I should think long and hard about how to respond to such wickedness and sorrow. Christians offer the only true, transforming, and lasting hope the world desperately needs and that applies to times like these, perhaps more than ever.
I have found the articles and reflections below to be full of wisdom, comfort, insight, honesty, truth, grace, and hope. They contain all of these things because they are grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ and his Word. The world needs the Lord Jesus Christ and all the fruit of his Spirit. I pray they will bless you as you seek to think about these and other recent events. Above all, may they prompt you to draw closer to and cry out to our Father in heaven.
Blessings,
Dale
- Christianity Today has provided this roundup of articles from Max Lucado, Mark Galli, Ed Stetzer, Michael Patton, and Amy Julia Becker. I’m sure they will continue to update, so check back with them over the days ahead.
- Rachel Weeping for Her Children by Al Mohler
- The Answer is Evil by James Emery White
- And Slew the Little Childer by Douglas Wilson
- Where Shall We Put This Grief? by Kathleen Nielson
- A Prayer in Response to the Newtown Tragedy by Scotty Smith
- A Time for Hate by T.M. Moore
- School Shootings and Spiritual Warfare by Russell Moore
- How Does Jesus Come to Newtown? by John Piper
- A Day for Hatred by Jen Wilken
- 8 Recommendations to Help Children Deal with Sandy Hook Tragedy by Kathy Milans
- Rick Warren offers these resources for helping folks to minister during this tragedy
- 7 Ways to Help Children Cope with Fear by Ron Edmondson
- A Lament by Bob Kellemen
- Disruptive Evil vs. Disruptive Grace by Timothy Tennent
- Tragedy in Newtown by Ravi Zacharias (added 12-18-12)
