rebelling against low expectations

How should we respond to national grief?

H

R. WRITES: This week has been filled with horrible things. People have died, and though most of us didn’t know them personally we are grieving with their loved ones. How can we grieve in these detached situations in a truly godly, loving, compassionate, just way?


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  • Just listen. So many of these killings are race related, and I think my (Native American) perspective just isn’t enough to process it. So I’m trying to listen, trying to understand, and fighting my own sin in that area.

    • You are right! Job’s comforters weeped for Job in silence for three days. Then they became “miserable comforters” by starting to speak their opinions and starting to criticize Job.

      • Well, listening is just a first step, but I do think it’s important. Thanks for the encouragement!

  • I think we have to recognize that we live in a fallen world. Sad things happen. Horrible things happen. But we as the Bride of Christ have to be the light, the joy and steady if that makes any sense. We have been given not a spirit of fear but of power of love and of a sound mind. We have to hold onto Gods promises. The darker the times the brighter they shine. While it is horrible and makes me angry to think that those who seek to protect us are targeted for gruesome acts of violence, I have to remember that I am here for such a time as this. We must reflect God even in trying times.

  • I live very close to where this tragedy happened. I know that it is a national grief but to see and know firsthand the grief of those directly related is devastating. A co-worker of mine had his best friend shot. He was one of the ones who survived but he, the family of the police man, and everyone who knew him was greatly shaken.
    I work at a Christian day camp and before work everyday we have prayer/worship. We prayed over my co-worker and afterwards he told us something that changed my heart. He said “I forgive the murderer. I love him. I wish I could wrap my arms around them and teach them that they’re loved.”. And he was so genuine. He went on to say that those who were retaliating were lost and confused and didn’t know what they were doing. He was sad, but even through this hard time he knew that we are the light in a dark world.
    Jesus is still good. He will forever be good. He has never not been good. We can still have joy and peace even when the world is crooked. Life is precious and delicate but we have an all-knowing, loving God. What happened was wrong and horrible but we have the power and authority through Jesus to forgive. It takes a lot of power and humility. We need His strength to do it. In fact, we can’t do it alone. But He is with us and He loves and protects our hearts.

  • Sadie. You are completely right. These people believed that what they were doing was right. It wasn’t. But your co-worker is right. God will still forgive that person and love him as a son. I have friends that are police officers so I can’t forgive the shooters as easily as your coworker can. But i also havee friends that are black that would have been in that peace ful protest so i can see where the anger and hurt comes from. But to be truthfull I don’t exactly know how to eatheir. So,J, you have as the question haunting everyone in the US. What do we do

  • I think another thing we can do (in addition to all of the awesome things people before me have posted!) is to see these instances first and foremost as tragedies, and to grieve the lives that were lost. A lot of the times these things turn into political arguments and statements, but before any of that, it’s important to recognize that real people were involved and some actually lost their lives. And that’s tragic, because God says life is precious.

    • I totally agree. People argue, debate, criticize, and judge. It is right to fight for what is right. But who are we fighting against? Against those who are wrong? Against those who are weeping? No, we are to love them. If in our arguing and fighting we neglect the hurting, then we are fighting for nothing. Never forget our real enemy, Satan.

  • We, as humans, can only do so much to comfort the hurting. God, however, is their Healer. The Holy Spirit is their Consolation. Our job is only to “weep with those who weep.”

    What else can we do apart from weeping? We can pray for the hurting. We can also demonstrate love for them by being kind and understanding. Because 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 says “love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

  • When the donkey and the elephant fail you. Try the lamb. That is a political stance. They donkey and the elephant represent different political parties. if those fail you. And they will. Rely on the lamb of God to get you through your struggles.

  • Yes, this can be scary. But we can’t be afraid. That’s the whole point of these attacks, wars, and other things happening today–to install fear. God has not given us the spirit of fear. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
    These are just ancient (and modern) prophecies coming to pass. Christ can’t come until all the prophecies are fulfilled. The scriptures talk about wars and rumors of wars. It’s how it is.
    God is in control. He knows of the heartbreak and loss. He sees his children hurting each other on this gorgeous earth he created. It hurts him, but he knows it must happen before the Second Coming.
    This is a broken world and its hurting. But we can help to make it better.

rebelling against low expectations

The Rebelution is a teenage rebellion against low expectations—a worldwide campaign to reject apathy, embrace responsibility, and do hard things. Learn More →