Prayer in the Face of Evil

Our country has suffered, yet again, an act of pure evil and civil unrest – and as Christians, we are dropping to our knees, asking for God’s mercy, healing, and grace.

This morning I woke up to the news that at least 58 people were killed, and over 550 were wounded in a horrific shooting in Las Vegas. A gunman turned a concert into a killing field Sunday night from his perch on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort, using at least 10 guns to rain down a steady stream of fire in the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history. I was still in bed when I heard this – my two girlfriends who got me up this morning shared it at my bedside when they came to help me get ready for the day. I was stunned. Shocked. And the first thing we did was to stop and pray. 

But how do you pray at such a time? First, you grieve – just as God grieves, just like His heart breaks. You mourn and lament over the devastation that sin has brought into this world. You feel sorrow and sadness and cry out to God for mercy, for His healing and help. And so, as I was still lying in bed, my friends and I did just that. And I am still praying, as I know you must be. In fact, join me now and together let’s go before God humbly, mournfully, and ask for His healing, not only on our deeply troubled nation, but for the families and loved ones. Let’s pray…

God of all mercy, we are heartsick over the ruin and desolation that sin has brought upon our world, upon our nation. Have mercy on us. And please, have mercy on the families of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. Comfort them in their grief, and show yourself to be the God of consolation that you are. You are the healer of broken hearts, and families and loved ones are utterly crushed by this senseless tragedy – draw them to your side, and show yourself to be the answer to their anguish. And please touch the lives of the many hundreds who lie wounded, and yes, even those who survived. Quiet their anxieties and fears, and heal their wounds. Cause them, as they lie on their beds, to seek you and turn to you with their concerns. And please, Lord, restore them and heal them.

Finally, Lord, we do not attempt to search for meaning in this massacre. You are sovereign, and you are the only one who can bring good out of this wretched evil. So, bind families together; unite Christians in prayer; help churches be salt and light in their neighborhoods; aid us in overcoming evil with good. Help us be vigilant in promoting peace, demonstrating love, and helping to change the divided climate in our homeland. We praise you for your sovereignty, even over this awful tragedy. For you have judged it better to bring good out of evil than to arrange it that no evil should exist. Men cannot be made good by laws; good can only spring from a change in peoples’ hearts. So please turn hearts toward Jesus Christ, the only one who can save us from ourselves; the only one who can rescue us from ruin. May this historic tragedy turn the history of this country so that one day we may, indeed, be crowned in brotherhood from sea to shining sea. In the powerful name of our Savior, Amen.

For resources on finding hope and healing in the midst of suffering, please visit our store.

Our country has suffered, yet again, an act of pure evil and civil unrest – and as Christians, we are dropping to our knees, asking for God’s mercy, healing, and grace.

This morning I woke up to the news that at least 58 people were killed, and over 550 were wounded in a horrific shooting in Las Vegas. A gunman turned a concert into a killing field Sunday night from his perch on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort, using at least 10 guns to rain down a steady stream of fire in the deadliest mass shooting in modern United States history. I was still in bed when I heard this – my two girlfriends who got me up this morning shared it at my bedside when they came to help me get ready for the day. I was stunned. Shocked. And the first thing we did was to stop and pray. 

But how do you pray at such a time? First, you grieve – just as God grieves, just like His heart breaks. You mourn and lament over the devastation that sin has brought into this world. You feel sorrow and sadness and cry out to God for mercy, for His healing and help. And so, as I was still lying in bed, my friends and I did just that. And I am still praying, as I know you must be. In fact, join me now and together let’s go before God humbly, mournfully, and ask for His healing, not only on our deeply troubled nation, but for the families and loved ones. Let’s pray…

God of all mercy, we are heartsick over the ruin and desolation that sin has brought upon our world, upon our nation. Have mercy on us. And please, have mercy on the families of those who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy. Comfort them in their grief, and show yourself to be the God of consolation that you are. You are the healer of broken hearts, and families and loved ones are utterly crushed by this senseless tragedy – draw them to your side, and show yourself to be the answer to their anguish. And please touch the lives of the many hundreds who lie wounded, and yes, even those who survived. Quiet their anxieties and fears, and heal their wounds. Cause them, as they lie on their beds, to seek you and turn to you with their concerns. And please, Lord, restore them and heal them.

Finally, Lord, we do not attempt to search for meaning in this massacre. You are sovereign, and you are the only one who can bring good out of this wretched evil. So, bind families together; unite Christians in prayer; help churches be salt and light in their neighborhoods; aid us in overcoming evil with good. Help us be vigilant in promoting peace, demonstrating love, and helping to change the divided climate in our homeland. We praise you for your sovereignty, even over this awful tragedy. For you have judged it better to bring good out of evil than to arrange it that no evil should exist. Men cannot be made good by laws; good can only spring from a change in peoples’ hearts. So please turn hearts toward Jesus Christ, the only one who can save us from ourselves; the only one who can rescue us from ruin. May this historic tragedy turn the history of this country so that one day we may, indeed, be crowned in brotherhood from sea to shining sea. In the powerful name of our Savior, Amen.

For resources on finding hope and healing in the midst of suffering, please visit our store.