Oh, what a sad Monday! Like you, one of the first things I read this Monday morning was about the horrible shootings that took place in Las Vegas on Sunday night. Hundreds of innocent people were gunned down by an evil man in the worst mass shooting in modern American history. 59  people have lost their lives so far and more than 500 were injured.

I cannot imagine how terrifying it was to be in that crowd. Hearing the gunfire and the screams of the people. Seeing people falling all around you. Feeling the pushing and shoving, or worse, feeling the ripping of bullets tearing through your flesh. Feeling your life’s blood drain from your body. Holding loved ones or strangers in your arms as their lives ended.

How could this happen? This is America—the land of the free and the home of the brave. Can’t we even enjoy an outdoor concert with our friends and family anymore?

How can we make sense of something so horrific that does not make sense? Mommies and daddies should not have to try to explain to their children that this can and did happen in our country. And far worse, a mommy should not have to explain to her children that their daddy is not coming home because he was killed by a gunman while he was trying to protecting her from being shot.

Why do these things happen? Why does God allow such evil to live in our world?

1. First of all, His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:9) Some things we will not fully understand this side of Heaven. Remember that we do not yet see clearly. We must trust God until His answers to suffering are made clear. “ For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
2. Secondly, we live in a broken world. We do know that God is not the creator of evil. When He finished His creation, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)  Adam and Eve were placed in a sinless paradise, but they openly and deliberately disobeyed and rebelled against God. “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world and death through sin, and thus sin spread to all men, because all sinned.” (Romans 5:12). Evil entered into the world because of man’s selfishness.
3. Thirdly, God gives us free will. Most of the evil done in this world comes from the choices of humans. One of the greatest things that God gives to man is free will. We have a choice. Unfortunately, people often choose to do evil rather than good. “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh ; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
4. Lastly, God’s ultimate plan is to bring as many people as possible to the saving grace of His Son Jesus Christ. I believe that God does not cause pain and suffering, but He answers the need of man in the midst of it. He alone can provide peace that passes all understanding, love that binds up the broken hearted, joy that is unexplained in the midst of heartache, grace that is sufficient for whatever we face. He answers prayer. We draw closer to Him when we trust Him to strengthen and deliver us and, again and again, we see He is faithful. I believe He shows Himself more during our trials. People see Him. People want Him. Souls are saved. Lives are changed, including, and especially, our own.

Through tragedy, trials, pain and suffering, He comforts us and gives us a compassion to bring comfort and care to others. “If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.” (2 Corinthians 1:6) He weaves a beautiful tapestry through the horrific parts of our lives to help us to be the kind of people He wants us to be.

I agree our world is a scary place, with evil on every corner. However, I am thankful to live in the world, broken and all, that Christ came into and gave His life for. He made a way for us to live with Him forever one day. Although there is evil in our world, praise God, it is temporary! One day evil will be destroyed. This is the hope that we have as believers. There is a new world coming. In Heaven, there will be no more tears, and all things will be made new. (Revelation 21:5)

Dear Lord: Please be with the families of those who lost their lives in the Las Vegas shootings. Comfort their hearts and hold them close during these difficult days as they mourn their loved ones. Please be with those fighting for their lives, and those who are recovering from their injuries. Please bring them healing and peace. Show Your children how we can be your hands and feet to reach out to these special people, and to be a light to them and to our nation. Please deliver us from these terrible acts of evil violence that plague our nation. May You bless the United States of America. Amen

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:38,39).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Please continue to pray for the victims and their families in the days ahead.   Let’s ask God to show us ways we can be light to combat this darkness. Please share your thoughts, comments and encouragement by replying below.

Thank you for reading and sharing my blogpost today. May God bless you and your family, and protect you from the evil that is so prevalent in our world today.