Our nation is grieving once again. In recent days, shocking acts of violence have left many of us unsettled and unsure of how to respond.
On Wednesday, Charlie Kirk was assassinated in public on a live webstream during a rally at Utah Valley University. Many looked to Charlie as a voice of boldness in the midst of a culture that has largely tried to silence christian and conservative voices. Whether or not you agreed with his views, Charlie’s death reminds us of how deeply divided our nation has become and how desperately we need Jesus to bring healing.
The shock and pain of a public assassination alone would be enough in isolation, but it is made even worse by the context of the last few months in our nation.
The same day, Evergreen High School in Colorado was shaken when a student opened fire on classmates before taking his own life, a chilling repeat of school violence that has become all too common.
Last month, Iryna Zarutska, a young Ukrainian refugee, was brutally killed on a Charlotte, NC light rail.
And in May, Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky were murdered in Washington DC.
Each one of these events is heartbreaking on its own. Together, they paint a picture of a world groaning under the weight of sin and longing for redemption.
In a time marked by so much bloodshed, we remember that there is a blood that speaks a better word than vengeance and hatred. Where human blood cries out for justice, the blood of Christ speaks mercy. It is only through His sacrifice that we can be reconciled to God and to one another.
Prayer rooms exists for moments like these. It is a prophetic place of refuge and a gathering point for intercession in times of national crisis. When the headlines are overwhelming and the pain feels too heavy to bear, we come before the throne of grace and cry out for comfort, healing, and revival in our nation.
Now is not the time for the Church to shrink back or give in to fear. It is a time to stand in the gap, to be salt and light, and to display the love of Jesus in radical, supernatural ways. The world needs to see believers who forgive and bless their enemies, and who walk in the power of the Spirit.
As we pray, here are a few ways we can lift our hearts to God:
For the families and loved ones of the victims:
That they would experience the nearness of Jesus, the Comforter, and receive supernatural peace that surpasses understanding. (Psalm 34:18, John 14:18, Ephesians 3:16-19, Philippians 4:7)
For our nation in this cultural crisis moment:
That the Church would rise up as a unified witness of Jesus, walking in love and forgiveness, and that many would turn to Him for salvation and healing. (John 17:21, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Ephesians 1:17-19)
For leaders and public servants:
That God would protect and sustain those who face the trauma of violence up close, granting them wisdom and courage in this dark hour. (1 Timothy 2:1-2, James 1:5, Isaiah 41:10)
For those bound by hatred or fear:
That the mercy of God would break through hardened hearts and bring repentance and transformation. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, Psalm 34:4)
Even in moments of great sorrow, we do not grieve as ones without hope. Jesus promised that those who mourn will be comforted, and His promises are true. May we be a people who grieve with compassion, pray with boldness, and love with the same love that Jesus poured out for us on the cross.
In this hour of shaking, may the blood of Jesus speak louder than the violence around us, and may His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
With hope in Him,
Joseph & Heba