Prayer and Premises

Jesus has promised to be with us - we can be assured that He will walk with us through good and bad
times, triumph and defeats, and give us internal peace despite the external circumstances.  In John 14, we can read:
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When we are left wondering about our lives, our relationships, or situations that may be perplexing or overwhelming, we can know that God has provided His Holy Spirit to us.  He goes with us and the knowledge that He resides in our hearts can result in peace.  Even when inner conflict may rage and despair sets in like an unwelcome invader, we can turn to the Lord and call on His name, so that we might experience a measure of His perfect peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

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In John 16, Jesus taught His disciples about troubled times that were coming, and He provides insight for the challenges we encounter:
32 Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

Verse 33 is, according to a story from which I will quote, a prevalent verse that shows up in search patterns centered around some tragedies.

The headline screams out what many perhaps are feeling today. It reads: "Vegas shooting: The land of the stars & stripes has become a country of stress & strife."  It contains a line from a column on the USA Today website, but it's not your average political commentary or editorial piece.

The writer continues:

Do you ever just feel worn out? Ready to check out, you turn off the TV, shut down your phone, pull the blanket over your head and hope it will go away by morning?

He says that it could be chronic anxiety and that, "Anxiety is a thief, taking our sleep, our energy, our well-being and our peace."  He relates that:

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are reaching epidemic proportions. In a given year more than 50 million Americans will feel the effects of a panic attack, phobias, or other anxiety disorders. The United States is now the most anxious nation in the world.

The author is none other than Max Lucado.  He encourages prayer in the face of anxiety.  He says:

Pray immediately. Don’t stew over the problems that are besetting you or your neighbor. Ask God for help as soon as you identify a need.

Pray specifically. When we boil our concerns down to a specific request, they become right-sized. Vague threats loom larger than concrete challenges.

Pray for and with others. When we consider the problems of others and enlist their help with ours, our concerns become more manageable.

Pray with thanksgiving. Anxiety and gratitude cannot occupy the same space. When we catalog what are thankful for, our list of challenges grows less powerful.

He says: "Let’s invite God to reframe the way we face our fears and win the war on worry. With his help, we can find calm in a chaotic world."   He has written a new book on the subject, called, Anxious for Nothing: Finding Calm in a Chaotic World.

It's good direction for us - prayer is an excellent response to the anxieties, the anger, and the desperation we face.  And, in the aftermath of the Vegas tragedy, people are searching the Scriptures.  

According to a Christianity Today article, "Bible Gateway analyzed search patterns surrounding Sunday night’s concert shooting as well as 18 other major incidents of violence over the past decade..." The article says that, "Among the site’s 150 million-plus visitors a year," four verses "saw distinct spikes in readership around those shootings". Those were:

• John 16:33: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
• Romans 12:19: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
• Psalm 11:5 “The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.”

The article states, "Overall, these go-to verses address God’s deliverance from the brokenness of the world—a condition many onlookers feel acutely during times of national tragedy."  It points out that the President used Psalm 34:18 in his post-tragedy comments; so did Louie Giglio, Christine Caine, and David Platt.

The time-honored elements that can bring peace after a tragedy, personal or collective, continue to be prayer and the Word.  And, we can be sure to integrate the Word into our prayer life, recognizing that the strength of our prayers is cemented through our awareness of the promises and premises of the Lord.

We can also recognize the sensitivity that people have in the aftermath of a tragedy.  They search for answers, but they don't come - and even though we may not completely understand why suffering occurs, we can reflect on and relate about the strength and presence of a God Who cares.   

And, one more thing - we have the capacity to triumph over anxiety and fear.  God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind, according to 2nd Timothy 1.  When our minds are weighed down by the burdens of this life, we can look to the Lord to provide hope and strength.