Recently, some friends of mine experienced unthinkable tragedies in their lives, the kind of heartbreaks that leave people reeling with anguish and questions.

In both situations, young children were left without one of their parents.

A bell rang and a gate opened to a place in my memories that I do not like to go—a little girl, four years old, whose mother died.  It wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I realized I hadn’t grieved that loss.  Even now, there is a bit of a sting from her death.

But I do not grieve like one who has no hope!

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep.” (2 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

It has taken me many years to get to the point that, when the twinges of pain and regret come ringing, I can answer them with, “I can grieve, but I do not grieve like one who has no hope!”  God has been to me a source of help and comfort when life seemed to offer no hope for peace.  And His presence in my life has been the impetus and equipping for me to become an intercessor for others who experience similar heartbreaks.

Scripture confirms:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

This past weekend was marked with tragic violence, hatred countered with more hatred, unfathomable depths of grief, paralyzing fear, and many, many unanswered questions.  Trying to formulate responses and solutions, finger pointing, blaming, and political rhetoric come screaming at us from almost every direction.

We want this fixed, and we want it fixed now!

We do not want to be afraid to leave our homes, afraid to go shopping, afraid to go out to eat or with friends, afraid to send our children to their schools!  We need hope, we need comfort, and we want to feel safe!

Yet we are seeing Jesus’ words spoken two thousand years ago being fulfilled:

“And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:12)

Many believe that enacting more laws will counteract the lawlessness, hatred, and murder spreading (seemingly) unchecked throughout the nation and the world.

It’s a spiritual problem, though, best countered on our knees.

Consider this, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Do we really think that the rulers, authorities, the cosmic powers over this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil who rebelled against God because they didn’t accept His authority, care the least about the laws made by human beings? 

If we are going to be angry about the unconscionable violence and lawlessness occurring all over the world, it is crucial that we recognize the source—it is a spiritual battle that can only be effectively addressed with spiritual means.  Let us not be like those who have futile responses, whose lives are dominated by a spirit of fear instead of the Spirit of God— “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7); instead, let’s “take up the full armor of God!” and pray— “in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:13, 18)

Jesus told His disciples while assuring them of the promise and work of the Holy Spirit, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)  Though we receive the Holy Spirit through faith when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, His work, His leading is a journey, not a destination:  “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 6:13)

When opinions are strong and emotions run high, few people can bear hearing words of truth or words of comfort.  Not everyone is consoled by the promise of God’s presence, passages of hope from scripture, or the assurance of supportive prayer.  That is why it is important for us to be in tune with God’s Spirit, as Jesus was, speaking only what He is saying to those who are mourning.

People who have a relationship with God and a dynamic prayer life will appreciate prayer support; those who have not received Jesus or haven’t experienced His faithfulness, His lovingkindness, or His presence will think our words and our commitments to pray are meaningless—yet as Christians, we do not grieve as others grieve.  And if we have walked with Jesus for any length of time, we recognize the truth found in these verses:

“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray.  Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. …Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.  Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” (James 5:13, 16-18)

Let us commit to be who God calls us to be, both prayer warriors and children of light in the midst of the darkness! (1 Thessalonians 5:5)