I am saddened by the events of the last week. The loss of innocence lives simply because of their faith or color of their skin is evil at his highest. My heart aches for members of the Tree of Life Synagogue as they watched their family and friends slain in front of them. I’m overwhelmed with grief for the young boy who saw his grandfather executed in Kroger simply for being black. I’m angered at the racial slurs hurled at women of color while they are driving to vote or waiting on a car repair. I’m bewildered at the violence targeted against people because they have chosen a particular political party.
It seems as if hatred is winning.
But yesterday, I listened to a song by Steven Curtis Chapman. It was written after he experienced the most tragic event of his life. The lyrics are:
Out of these ashes, beauty will rise
And we will dance among the ruins
We will see Him with our own eyes
Out of this darkness, new life will shine
And we’ll know the joy is coming in the morning,
In the morning, beauty will rise!
This morning, I believe Beauty will rise in the midst of these tragic events. Do you? I believe Love will triumph over hatred in this country. I believe good will overcome evil. I believe light will shine brighter than darkness. I believe this hatred, this evil, this darkness that seems to be prevalent will lead us to the One who is Love, Who is Good, Who is Light -Jesus. I have child-like faith this morning that beauty will rise.
I believe that just as easily we have learned to hate, we can learn to love. I believe that Jesus overcame death, evil, and hatred on the cross and placed within each of us who profess Christianity the power to love, to heal, to unify and overcome evil. I believe the answer to the woes of this country are not found in a political party, a president or a voting pac. The answer is found in Jesus and Jesus resides in the hearts of every Christians. We can make a difference.
Join me in praying for our country this morning:
Father, let every family member, every friend who is experiencing a loss this morning due to hatred, feel your love and comfort. Let every person targeted because of the color of their skin, their religious belief or their political beliefs experience peace and know they were created in your image. Teach us, your children, to be an example of love to the world. Let us not strive to be known for our political affiliation but, let us strive to be known for the way we love. Lord, teach us to love better. Teach us to love in words and in our deeds. Let us see what you are doing in the midst of the darkness and then let us join in with you being your hands, your feet, your mouthpiece. Let our words and our social media promote love, healing, and unity.
Lord, out of these ashes, let beauty rise.
Let us dance among the ruins
Lord, let us see You with our own eyes
Out of this darkness, let new life shine
Give us revelation of the joy that is coming in the morning,
Oh Lord, let beauty rise!
“To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.”
Isaiah 61:3 NLT