Where was Jesus during the Sandy Hook shootings?

“Where was Jesus during the Sandy Hook shootings?”

I believe that Jesus was right there, at the school and in each classroom of Sandy Hook on that day. Why do I believe that? The Bible says that our Father holds the world in His hand; Psalm 139 tells us there is no where we can go where the Spirit of the Lord is not already there. Hebrews 13:5 tells us that Jesus promises to never leave us or abandon us. Where was Jesus that day? Right there in the middle of it.

Why didn’t Jesus stop the shooter from doing those horrific things that day? Why didn’t He prevent that young man from shooting those children and staff at Sandy Hook? I can’t answer that question completely but I can give some thoughts.

·         How often does Jesus make each of us pick up the Bible and read about Him and find the peace and direction that we so often seek?

·         How often does Jesus make us pull into the church parking lot instead of the running errands or sleeping in?

·         How often does Jesus make us stop swearing and using His precious and powerful Name in vain?

·         How often does Jesus make us stop watching, reading and participating in things that do not bring Him honor or do anything good for our own lives or the lives of those we influence?

·          How often doe Jesus make us love Him and follow Him and bring Him honor?

If we enjoy the freedom to choose Jesus or ignore Him or believe that He is not really a part of this world, why do we question His lack of involvement during tragic times like this? The same Jesus, who does not make you or me love Him and follow, did not make Adam Lanza choose Him. Why didn’t Jesus intervene? I cannot answer that question but I can say with confidence that Jesus did many things that day that we will never know this side of Heaven.

So where was Jesus during the Sandy Hook shootings? He was with the teachers and staff of Sandy Hook as they had the presence of mind to hide those children and in some cases stand in the way for those children. He was with those same teachers and staff as they spoke words of encouragement, love and instructions as shots were heard. He gave those teachers and staff strength, wisdom and courage. He brought peace to those children. Where there should have been chaos, crying and screaming there was quiet, love and peace. I will never forget the words of that young teacher interviewed by Diane Sawyer that thought that the last things these children should hear was that they were loved. So she told each of them, “I love you and I am very proud of you.” Jesus was there.

Jesus was there when the father of Emily stood up in front of reporters probably from around the world and proclaimed forgiveness for Adam Lanza and stated that he and his family were praying for Adam’s family because he couldn’t imagine what they were feeling. That father was Jesus in front of all those reporters and in front of the world. I hope that I would be able to so quickly display love, grace and forgiveness so soon after such a horrific time in my life. He was Jesus in that moment.

Do I wish that horrific day had not happened? MOST DEFINITELY!

But I know Jesus was there.

using the Sword of the Spirit

Over the past few weeks we have looked at the verses in Philippians 4:4-7 in terms of your own heart as you pray for others. Today I want to flip that around a bit and give an example of how to pray these same scriptures over someone or yourself in times of need. What does it mean to pray over someone? Prayer in my mind is a way of bringing Christ and His Spirit into a situation, an invitation into someone’s life and even your own life. Our prayer is like a spiritual covering, blanketing that person or yourself with peace, love and power through the prayers you pray.

Our prayers are also a spiritual battle. When we confess with our mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, we will saved (Romans 10:9). At this very time of confession and belief, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. Therefore, we have a battle between what we would naturally do in our lives and what the Holy Spirit would like us to do. As we fight this battle every day we need weapons. Ephesians 6 speaks of the armor of God. In that armor there is one weapon and it is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. When we go to pray for ourselves or those that requested our prayers, we are going to battle. What better weapon than the Word of God, our powerful sword!

“Lord Jesus, You ask us to rejoice in You and again rejoice. I pray, Lord, that _______ would be able to rejoice at this time. Remind him of Your character and truths he has learned while reading and hearing Your Word. You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Help him to remember this and rejoice in this truth and other truths he has learned, even if he cannot at this time rejoice in his current situation. Help me to be gentle and loving towards _______ when we meet. Give me Your understanding and love so I might be a help to him, when he seeks it. Thank You, Lord, that You are near and that You are willing and able to help in this situation. Help ______ to know and believe that You are near to him. Open his eyes that he may see evidence of You, his ears that he may hear You and his heart that he may receive the truths and comforts You are sending him and know and believe that You are near. Help him to surrender his anxiety about this situation to You. Remind of Your faithfulness to him in the past, answers to prayers and provisions, so that he may come to You with a heart of thankfulness as he seeks Your help. Right now in the days to come may he be blanketed by Your peace. Peace that he cannot explain that covers him completely. Help ______ to recognize that this peace comes from You, so that once again he may recognize Your provision, even as he waits for You to take care of this problem for him. Help him not to just come to You for a resolution of this problem but to come to You for help, peace, power and comfort during this time. Give him the strength he needs to wait on You during this time.”

Notice that I did not address the prayer request but prayed for the person using this passage of scripture. Many times during our trials Jesus is working on our hearts to perfect us as the Bible explains in many places but also in Philippians 1:6. After you have prayed for the person and his/her heart and ability to receive from Christ what He is trying to send to this person, most definitely pray for the situation or incorporate the request in the prayer as you pray for the person’s heart.

The Word of God is powerful and sharper than a two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). Use it in strength and power as you pray for yourself and others.

Peace that transcends all understanding

In the past weeks we have been looking closely at each verse in the passage of Philippians 4:4-7. I think that at times it is good to go through passages slowly for better understanding and meditation. The final verse in this passage is something that I believe is accomplished after the previous recommendations have been followed.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

This is not to say that the peace of God will not find you unless you follow “x,y, and z.” However, in regard to this passage Paul is telling us that as we come to the Lord in prayer in the way he has instructed the result will be a peace that we cannot explain that will guard our hearts and minds.

Wow! Our God is certainly amazing! He asks us to intercede on behalf of others. He tells us how to do it. Then He tells us that He will give us a peace that is indescribable and will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Again I must reiterate here that whatever Christ requires or asks, He also provides the means to do. Remember there was a “disturbance” in their church because of two women fighting. Paul instructs the body to pray. After this church prays in the way Paul suggests, he informs them that they will find peace and protection. And all of this comes from Jesus Christ Himself!

The cares and prayer requests of those we love and serve can, at times, be heavy to bear. We have the possibility of becoming vulnerable to agitation, fear, overwhelming sadness or worry, when we are given prayer requests. We must remember that we come on behalf of others out of love for them and for our Lord. We boldly come before the Throne of God with these precious requests and we leave them right there, at His feet. We are making a deposit, so to speak. We come and give Him the concern and request and leave it at His feet to handle the result. We come concerned and sometimes heavy or even weeping for those we pray for and then how to we leave His Throne Room? We leave with a peace that transcends all understanding that also gives our hearts and our minds protection.

It strikes me that as I read this last paragraph over again, it clearly comes from a woman's heart or at least this woman's heart that so easily empathizes with others. But as I think how my husband may come (I have not asked him if this is accurate), I could see him coming in strength and protection for those he is praying for. He would not come necessarily weeping but ready to do battle. I also can see him leaving still ready for battle and trying to figure out how best to conquer this battle. This person too must leave with peace and protection. The battle is the Lord's. You come in strength ready to go to battle for others, leave the quest at His feet and leave in peace knowing that this General is mighty and strong and will care for His people. When and if He asks for your assistance, you will know it. But your part in the battle at this time is done. You have left the concern at His feet, leave in peace.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3