Today I watched as my co-workers reacted to the news of the shootings at the recruiting centers here in Chattanooga. I watched my boss’ hand begin to shake as she read the news update and viewed the picture of the door. I watched my other co-worker get sick to her stomach. I watched as their faces displayed the panic and terror they were feeling on the inside, and later the anger.
I myself could not relate to their fear because I didn’t have any. Perhaps if the circumstances were different, if the shootings had been in random places, I might have been afraid. While, I think knowledge of places the shooter was targeting helped me to not be afraid, I think there was another factor involved too. I believe God gave me strength through knowledge of His truth. I believed then and do now that God protects His people and no one will die before his or her appointed time. I believe that heaven is a far better place than here. I believe that nothing happens outside of God’s control. I do not understand the complexities of it all and how we are also responsible for our actions, but I believe both to be true.
As I watched my co-workers I prayed that God would give them strength and peace. I prayed that he might manifest himself to them so they might believe in Him. My heart went out to them as I tried to imagine what it would be like to not believe that God has the whole world in his hands or that God protects his children. To believe in a world full of evil and chaos and no seeming anchor to be found.
My prayer and hope is that as these tragedies continue to happen (and they will for man’s nature is corrupt) people will begin to recognize their need for a savior and turn to Jesus Christ who is Lord of all, for all authority on earth and in heaven have been given to him. It is times like these that it becomes clear why Jesus can’t just be our “homeboy,” but must also be our Lord.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/16/us/tennessee-naval-reserve-shooting/index.html