Because of the recent tragedy in Las Vegas, I am posting a most insightful article by Casey Schutrop of WOW Ministries International – Hope Found in the Chaos
TRAGEDY AND TRAUMA
Still fresh, the day after the flood of news of the largest mass-shooting on U.S. soil, when the gates of hell rained open fire on people, the shock and ‘angst’ was growing within me. Hurting deeply for the lives lost, the injured and the families affected, my thoughts went to the ripple-effect of this tragedy as I tried to wrap my head around it – when our daily calendars did not know a tragedy would interrupt our daily programming. How do process it? And like a kiss from heaven, I read this verse In Lamentations 3:23-24 as I opened His word, “The LORD’S loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” A real reminder of what always awaits. HIS presence. Because of kisses from heaven like this, I know He cares, He knows our anxious thoughts and troubled hearts. He is “The God Who Sees.” He sees me. And He sees you.
THE EMERGING STORY
Later that day, surveying the news scenes of chaos and carnage on the Vegas strip, another story was unfolding, amidst the horror – HOPE. It was clear something was rising from within the pandemonium…Complete strangers worked together as if trained to work in tandem. It was surreal
to watch how order emerged from the chaos to rescue and aid the wounded. And what was evident was their courage and split-second thinking – to run back to tend the wounded, teams of people buddying up with each other to care for and carry the wounded. Others improvising to find make-shift stretchers of what once was crowd control fencing, while others waved down pick-up trucks to serve as emergency ambulances. And later, countless citizens lining up for blocks to give blood.
As I watched this, what suddenly surprised me was a memory forgotten: the way it used to be – people working together despite differences. It popped from the screen. What was I seeing? Where did this come from? What motivated them? What was the common denominator of these people?
Valor
I had taken this for granted in the past. The sense of unity we had, a moral compass in our daily life to do good, to sacrifice. That kind of valor on wide scale was so long forgotten that the contrast caught me. What is the ‘why’ of this heroism? Where does it come from? What lies beneath valor?
Love
We are all very much the same, yet all very unique. Within us lies the same need: To love and to be loved. Isn’t that what a soldier fights for? To protect what he loves? To fight for truth and justice? To right wrongs?
That is what we saw emerge – great valor fighting for truth on the streets in Vegas. “Sin City” was now filled with saints – serving and sacrificing as if all together saying, “Whatever evil wishes to take us down, will not!”
What a metaphorical picture of the condition of our country at this time. Now darker in division as never before, sin appears up-front and center-screen; showing right as wrong and wrong as right. The demand for “tolerance” appears to have an unpronounced martial law, placing a muzzle over mouths from speaking out personal moral convictions, while criticalness, arguing and in-fighting supersedes locking arms to move forward in goodness.
If ANY good could arise from this tragedy and horror brought by the true enemy, the one who introduced death to this fallen world, is that we agree it is time for us as a country to love and rise in valor; to bring good and stand for good. People can have good in them and can do good only when they have love in them. God’s love. Here’s a spiritual dynamic we can use as armament when darkness hits hard: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21
I need to return to Love daily. I can’t live without love, without seeking it out. God is love, my daily portion. As I experience His word, it ‘wowed me’ as truth: “In His presence is fullness of joy” Psalm 16:11. Yet joy doesn’t mean ‘happiness.’ “Joy is gladness in our heart and soul that remains undimmed by the trials, tests and tribulations we have in our world.” Although we live in a fallen world filled with chaos, hurts, uncertainty, fear and darkness, the Psalmist said that in God’s presence there is the fullness of joy.
Truth
Love brings joy. One cannot have joy without love, and in turn, one cannot have peace without Joy. Oh sweet peace.
The BLESSED PROMISE.
For me, it comes from the assurance of the promise of His presence that He is with us throughout every test, trial and trauma. The verse then proves true: “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” – Nehemiah 8:10
With the tests, trials and trauma, chaos, fear and anxiety we are facing in our nation, we certainly need the gates of heaven to rain down love, joy, peace and hope found in the Lord Jesus. There is no mass murder, storm or shaking that could ever separate us from His love. No personal mourning, no murder of our own sense of self, no storms of personal trial and traumas or shaking of our circumstances that can separate us from His love or the ‘what matters most in the war-torn trenches of life’ than the TRUTH of what is true between here and eternity.
Let HOPE arise.
In His presence…WOW.
Casey Schutrop is an inspirational speaker, mentor, and national award winning author.
