Disgust. Sorrow. Anger. Grief. Sadness. Loss. Despair.
Hope. Purpose. Restoration. Light. Thanksgiving.

This is my response to Friday’s events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Yes, I know this is almost a week late, but finals were this week and I had only heard what others had discussed, not read the details or seen the pictures myself.
Reading those details, I was horrified. Seeing those pictures of such sweet, lovely, hopeful faces of children… reading their stories and knowing that they have families, siblings, best friends, pets… it broke my heart. It brought tears to my eyes and an aching sorrow to my soul to think of anyone wanting to harm little ones like this. These are Abba’s little ones… little ones to whom Jesus said, “Come to Me!” with joy.
It left me asking Why? Abba, why these adorable little children? Why did they have to die? And why did their friends and siblings have to experience this inexplicable suffering, see their friends die, undergo this huge catastrophe? And I don’t have the answers to these questions. None of us do. Only God knows what is going on… what the purpose is for things like this. I know that He is completely sovereign, so there is a purpose for everything, but when there is such indescribable pain involved… children… I know that God weeps with His children. He weeps with His people who are facing this loss. He holds them. He holds the children, their families, their community. He sorrows with them, hurts with them, cries with them, comforts them, grieves with them. He didn’t create this world to be this way; He created humanity for delight, for peace, for joy, for freedom in obedience. Pain, sorrow, and unthinkable sin is what happens when we try to deviate from His intention for us. Father, may we return in repentance, bowing to You in forgiveness and sorrow. May we let You hold us, hold the children and their families. May we surrender ourselves to You. May we forgive those who cause this pain and grief upon us the way that You have unconditionally forgiven us.
You are the only One Who brings order out of this chaos that our nation has undergone this past week. You are the only One Who can heal the broken hearts of these families, these children, this school, this community. May we open our hearts for You do to Your work in them.
I give December 14, 2012 to You, LORD Jesus.