This past week, tragedy struck our community. What started as a normal day, took a traumatic turn. We had first responders on the scene. We have parents and young people who have been close friends, classmates, teachers of these precious young girls. As a staff, Brad, Seth, and I made ourselves available to the schools, parents, and students for support. Some of you opened your homes to create space for kids to grieve, and talk. Some of you made donations, showed tangible support. I was amazed by all those involved--we've got incredible leaders in our schools, in our classrooms, in our community.
We want this morning to be a time for God to minister to us by his Spirit, for us to minister to one another, for us to come before God. Sometimes in a crisis people aren't ready to come before God, not in prayer, not at all. Someone said, “This is so awful, I don't want nor care to hear from God.” This is a place for you to express whatever is on your heart to God. There's no judgement here.
Our first reaction to trauma is almost always shock and horror. At first, it doesn't feel real. It feels more like a dream, or rather a nightmare. You want to wake up from the experience (or news), shake it off, and forget about it forever. You want to switch the channel. You want normal to return. You want to circle up with those you love and thank God they are okay. But then of course you realize, something terrible has indeed happened and life is never going to be the same—not for you, not your family, not your community. What are you to do now?
Before the shock even begins to wear off, before the fog has begun to clear, anger takes over. We see how quickly people begin looking for a flesh-and-blood culprit, a villain. Who did this? Where are they? What happened? How did it happen? How can someone be so reckless, or foolish? Will there be justice? Will someone pay? Hearing people's reactions (and unfiltered comments) is also shocking. We’re so quick to be angry and speak—and it’s rarely helpful. We’ve seen this week how the first to speak, make commentary, create unneeded pain,
A few weeks ago a friend gifted Lara and I “Mercy Me” concert tickets. In their show they go back and sing some of their oldest songs. Each person in the band picks a song, and the others have to go along. There was one song the lead guy absolutely did not want to sing that night—I don't know why. But it's that song that’s now feels so timely. The title is “Word of God speak. . .” When you’re in shock, when waves of sadness are flooding over your soul. . . as you sit there trying to catch your breath… “Word of God speak” is the perfect breath prayer. God of all compassion… of all mercy… of all understanding, of infinite wisdom… speak!
When we're ready, God does speak. I don't think God ever has, nor will give us some tidy answer to all our questions. In Philippians 4:5-7 Bible says, “Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” What we’re looking for in times like this isn't deeper understanding, but deeper sense of God's presence and peace. We're asking God to guard our hearts and minds from discouragement, despair, even indignation.
Word of God Speak. This week God brought the Words of Ephesians 6:10 to mind, “10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.” Yes Lord, pour out your strength on these families, who've lost daughters. On those who lead the after school program, on those witnesses who saw this horror unfold. On those first responders who will carry this scene in their minds forever. Strengthen those parents for whom this is their most existential fear—that some tragedy may strike, and they will never see their child again. Strengthen the Chatham community, the school and the students, Lord may your nearness, strength, power, love, presence be felt everywhere a red ribbon has been placed. “Word of God speak.” We may be in shock, but God in his vast strength, is not in shock. He is present with us through all we face.
God brought Ephesians 6:11-12 to mind. “11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.”
Even when a flesh-and-blood “villain” can be caught and named—it’s of little comfort. In time, we realize our struggle (our enemy) is far greater than one person, one day, one moment. Our greater struggle is against sin—that on any given day, any person can affect themselves, but also affect a whole community. Our greater struggle is against death itself—we need resurrection hope, and not empty hope, but resurrection reality. We need to know death is truly defeated. That though we (or those we love) die, yet shall we live.
Ephesians 6:11-12 reminds us that our greater struggle is against a whole cascading hierarchy of responsibility that ultimately leads to the Devil himself. I sin. You sin. I fail. You fail. We fail ourselves, we fail others, we fail our families, we often fail as a community to be attentive, to intervene before tragedy comes. Our rulers, leaders, and authorities fail. Our laws, public policies, safety measures… We all need to be better for ourselves and one another. But there is one upon whom ultimate responsibility falls. The Evil One lies, kills, steals, and destroys. It’s Satan's Kingdom, powers of darkness, forces in the unseen realms, that are the ultimate culprit. Powers mysterious to us, but known, conquered by Christ through death, burial, and resurrection.
When tragedy strikes, we always want a tangible task to do, something within our power, and ability, something we can fix. But there is no conventional way to battle the Evil One. We must learn to fight an unconventional war against unconventional enemy. So, we put on that belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness. And we say, “Word of God speak” God teach us, show us your ways!
The words of Ephesians 6:13 came to mind. “13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand.” The translation feels a little clumsy here—but God is saying, “do everything to be prepared.” We don't start training for godliness when temptation is already overtaking us. We don't learn to wield the sword of the spirit … how to defend yourself, with helmet, shield, and breastplate … when the enemy is at our doorstep! We don't get in running shape in moment of need. A good soldier prepares, trains, practices, conditions himself before the day of battle.
There is a double tragedy to not being prepared. There is the tragedy itself. But then there is the collateral pain of being caught unprepared. I’ve seen, I've also experienced firsthand, how powerful the Word of God can cut through the fog of trauma. When we've taken God’s word to heart, his presence and peace really does transcend the moment, he really does guard our hearts and minds, he gives strength!
Word of God speak. Prepare us Lord. In this world there is trouble. Finally, Ephesians 6:18 came to mind: “18 Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” Do you know that virtually every command in Scripture occurs in the deep-southern-second-person-plural form “you' all.” The commands are “you all be strengthened…together” not just “you by yourself.”
To our Chatham community I say well done! The red ribbons are a reminder we are a community. We need one another’s thoughts, prayers, encouragements, presence, involvement, love, help. You don't have to get through this or anything alone. We have a Loving Father who speaks. We have the Son who is near, who knows, understands, and is able to sympathize with us. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit who translates our groans into Kingdom shaking prayers. And, we have one another, the Church. God invites us to not only pray but to comfort one another with the comfort we've received. This may not be your moment of pain… it may be someone else’s… yet God commands us to step into one another’s pain and love and serve. And God also gives us his words to share. Words of comfort and hope.
Ephesians 6:19-20, “19 Pray also for me, that the message may be given to me when I open my mouth to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel... Pray that I might be bold enough to speak about it as I should.” God, speak through us this hour!