It’s a mad world. The digital age has made it possible to access news like never before. Sadly, a lot of the news that I digest digitally is bleak. Football hooliganism, the death of YouTube sensation Christina Grimmie, the Orlando shooting at the LGBT nightclub, Westboro Baptist Church spilling out hate in response to the tragedy in Orlando, a jihadist murdering a French police officer and his wife – – and that’s just within the space of a few days.
Today, I have to be still. Hate consumes so many actions committed in today’s world. All that’s left for me to do is to kneel at the cross of Christ.
A Stumbling-Through It, Honestly-Seeking, Hurting yet Loving Kinda Prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart is torn. I have to look away from the world and fix my eyes to you.
Each person is made in your image, but how can we see you in this mess? Why do we see so much suffering in the eyes of the loved ones who grieve, who are left behind and left to figure out the void that is missing? Where are you God? Don’t forget us here, do not hide your face from us.
How can we make sense of this senseless bloodshed? God, you search the heart and test the mind. Can you search the heart of those that seem so heartless – could they even have a heart if they can commit such horrendous crimes?
Lord, as you hung on the cross in agony and exhaustion for me and for the whole world, many mocked you. They hated you. They rejected you and left you to die.
You know what it means to be the recipient of hate because the world hated you first. The world rejected you and crucified you.
You know what it feels like to be hated, rejected and alone.
Yet still, even then, on the cross you said: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
In the face of hate, you forgave.
The cross was not the end.
You defeated death for all and bridged the gap between God and mankind that was caused by sin. Sin separates us from you. Hate is a by-product of our sin. Lord, thank you for giving yourself for our sins, healing and restoring us to yourself and paving the way to an eternal life.
Lord, help us to forgive. Help us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute and hate us.
Thank you for Jesus. Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth to restore and make all things new. It’s only through your love found in Christ that we can be saved from the evil that fills our earth. You made a way to save all people. Lord, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
You are the Living God who hears our prayers, our weeping, our hurting hearts, our angry cries…
Heal our nation, God.
Lord, heal me.
The blood of Jesus washes every blemish – may I taste this reality in my own life. Lord, start with me. Start with my heart. My broken heart that hoards up feelings of jealousy, remorse, impatience… Every thing in me that is not from you, Lord, please take it away and fill it with more of yourself. Help me to better serve you and tell others of your saving grace, abounding love, hope-filled life.
God, I need your comfort and I am thankful that you have dealt with hate, sin and suffering once and for all. There will be a day when there will be no more tears. In the middle of all of this madness that I witness, I pray for hearts that turn, or re-turn, to you. There is nothing in this world that can satisfy us completely except you. Jesus, thank you.
Amen.
Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts… (Hebrews 3:15)
An Anchored Hope 
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