“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives
do I give it to you. Do not let
your hearts be troubled or afraid." John
14:27
____________________________________________________________
It is hard to be at peace watching the news these
days, especially after seeing the coverage of the Orlando Shooting that just
killed 50 innocent people and injured 53 more. As the world seems to be spinning out of
control with mayhem, hatred, evil, and increased violence, we may need to have
a paradigm shift from fear to faith--consciously, actively working for peace—in
our own lives, our communities, and our nation.
The hardest and most difficult truth about the Orlando
Shooting is that it could have happened anywhere in the US and the global
community, as terrorism defies authority and borders and is fueled by unbridled extreme hatred. So many
questions press forward in the aftermath of this heinous crime, the worst
shooting in American history, and there are no easy answers. This tragedy surely
evokes and provokes anger and fear in all of us. How did this happen in this
age with so much American and global vigilance towards terrorism? Could this
happen in my own community? It makes us wonder, is there no place that one can
go to escape and avoid the throes of hatred and terrorism in these days of radical
extremist hatred and ISIS?
“I have told you this so that you might have peace in Me. In the world you will have
trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” John
16:33
Though
unsettled by the violence, we need to look into our own hearts and minds and
pray fervently for an outpouring of love and peace in our own personal lives, for
love and peace can only come from trusting in Jesus, our Almighty Savior,
Protector, and Comforter. In as much as Jesus is Lord and we are not, it is
important to leave room for Him to move as He will, as only He can handle the
evil we encounter. But this much. And this much I know for sure—
What
occurred was not a case of mental illness, but of abject evil gone awry.
Our knee jerk reaction may easily be one of a surge of
negative emotions, pressing questions, fear and even hatred for the shooter.
Most unsettling, perhaps there may seem to be nowhere to hide from such extreme
acts of hatred and terrorism, but there is. For believers and non-believers
alike, it is an illusion to think we are in this world all alone. For God is
with us, and in earnest prayer, we all need to place this nation, this world
squarely in the hands of God! Consider this profound biblical promise:
“He [God] will shelter you with his pinions, and under His wings you may take refuge;
his faithfulness is a
protecting shield.” Psalm 91:4
It is
not our place to judge, but it is our job to love others to the best of our
abilities. Faith and fear cannot coexist, and the
peace of Jesus Christ transcends all adversity and evil.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled
or afraid.” John 14:27
Worry
and fear can never touch, quell and/or eradicate hatred and evil, but quiet personal
and collective prayer to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, can eliminate them
both in the blink of an eye, giving us an unshakable peace. Prayer can also
help us more easily identify prejudice, hatred and evil for what they are in
ourselves and others, and assist us swiftly to higher ground—to love one
another as God’s children. In striving for peace, the Bible tells us we need to
pray not only for ourselves, but also, even for our enemies, those we fear, and
those who have hurt us. Our peace is only found in Jesus through prayer and
reading Holy Scripture:
When you are able to boldly pray for your enemies and
those who have hurt you this way, internal and external peace is the end
result. When you believe that you are not alone in this world, with Jesus at
your side, you are free to love the unlovable—able to concurrently hate the
sin, AND love the sinner as Jesus does, with uncommon compassion, paving the
way to peace.
Please
pray with me now…
Dear
Father God,
You
are the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. In You there is no
darkness at all. Our nation is in dire trouble, and we need you desperately now.
We lay this good nation, the United States of America in Your almighty, healing
hands this day. Help us to work tirelessly for peace in our families, our
communities and our nation, and purge all hatred from our hearts. Look with
favor on your people, Lord, those who seek You in earnest. Give us peace in our
days, and joy-filled hearts filled with gratitude in You, and keep us safe from
all harm. Amen!
Adele
M. Gill | June 15, 2016 |
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