Just like a lot of people I have been trying to come to grips with the tragedy in Connecticut. I have 2 daughters and a granddaughter. I have 14 neices and nephews and 16 great neices and nephews. I really don't know how I would react if any of them, especially my children or grandchild, were in that school and lost their life. I know it is normal to feel anger, guilt and so on. But what is normal? You hear the phrase, "the new normal" thrown around all of the time and I get it, but for these people having a new normal that is minus a precious life, and worse yet they were taken so violently, words can not explain what they must be going through. One of the toughest books in the bible to process sometimes is Job. Job was a man of God that was allowed to walk through losing everything in his life so God would be glorified and the Devil would be put in his place. Job lost his family, and his livelyhood. All through the book of Job there were so called friends of his trying to disuade him into beleiving God was evil, that he should not accept what happened and be bitter, but Job stood his ground. Now he was irritated and had moments thoughts that seem trite towards God, but he continued to walk the path set before him. After the trial, God blessed him 10 fold for his faithfullness. I am not saying that everyone involved will be like Job, but I am saying that God can walk beside them and us in this situation. He equips us to be able to see the other side of an issue. He walks along side us and carries us when needed. He is always faithful. This week we studied the story of Jonah in small group and Jonah, when asked to go back to the hostile land, he ran. Until God brought a huge storm while he was in a boat. The storm was so bad they were on the verge of sinking, but God said if Jonah were to be cast into the sea, it would become calm, they were reluctant, until it was obvious there was no other way, so Jonah insisted they comply. You know the rest, he was swallowed by a huge fish, where he was able to come to grips with what God wanted of him and he was spit out of the fishes mouth. These 2 examples show one man who through tragedy fought the good fight and another, just the mere thought of it ran away. But both were eventually used by God for good and his glory.
My prayer for the folks directly affected by this tragedy is that they seek God and his plan in this and use it to help with healing, and try to discern how he wants to use this in their lives. I also pray that for those running from the prosepct of a Godly intervention, that they too sense his calling and hear the knock upon their heart, and invite him to do a miracle even in this situation. When we are in the midst of a horrible situation, it is hard to see any light in the darkness. This is an extremely dark time for these people, and I pray that somehow the light will begin to shine through and they can feel the warmth again. I pray God's blessings on all of the people of Newtown and all of the extended families affected. Amen
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