This Should Not Be: A Prayer for Las Vegas

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10)

Tragedy seems insufficient a word to describe what we’re seeing on the news; what so many of our fellow Americans experienced mere hours ago. This should never be. Shootings, whatever the situation, should not happen.

But it did. As impossible as it is to wrap our minds around it, fifty of our people were murdered and hundreds more are wounded. They leave behind families in shock, filled with grief. A community dedicated to providing fun and entertainment now takes a somber moment and reels from the devastation that has taken place.

When tragedy strikes, whether national like this, or personal like the loss of a loved one, we have no remedy but to seek our consolation from the Lord. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will glorify me (Psalm 50:15),” says the Lord. This is most certainly a day of trouble. Let us call upon the name of the Lord:

“O Gracious and Merciful Lord, You know the plight of Your people. You know we too often have days where we can’t begin to understand. You promise to hear and remember Your people. Hear us today as we cry out to You from a place of sorrow and great sadness. Remember us and grant peace and comfort to the grieving of Las Vegas and throughout our nation. We call upon You to bring justice. We call on you to assuage our fears and calm our hearts. Where there is chaos and violence bring peace and calm. Walk with us through this tragedy so that we may not be lost in dismay nor consumed with hostility. Unify us in support and love for our neighbors who are hurting. Grant us Your great grace to endure what life has given us. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.”

Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.

“When aimless violence takes those we love,
When random death strikes childhood’s promise down,
When wrenching loss becomes our daily bread,
We know, O God, You leave us not alone.” 
(Lutheran Service Book, Hymn 764)

Evaporated Sorrow

You have sorrow now, but I will see you again and your hearts will rejoice and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:2

War throughout the world. Terroristic acts in our homeland. Tragedy in our communities. Such things cut to the core. Sorrowfully we hear of the next devastating calamity and wonder when it will end. Why does it have to be this way? Couldn’t God bring all this to an end?

Yes, and He will. The day is coming when Jesus will stand face to face with us. On that day, those looking for deliverance from the Lord will receive their heart’s desire. All sorrow will evaporate to nothing more than a vague recollection. Like a dried up ditch aside an old dirt road that meanders from days long past, unhappiness will be no more. In the meantime, the same Jesus who will make such joy reality comforts you through all that causes heartache and bitterness.

Jesus, take away sorrow and make my heart rejoice. Amen.