photo by Lucas Larsson

Note: This article is derived from multiple writing attempts sparked by tragic shooting events earlier this year.

War, anxiety, death, disease, and destruction. Innocence trampled and evil exalted. Recent world and U.S. headlines scream out loud what we already know inside: this world is not what it ought to be. Something is terribly wrong. Local tragedies mirror the global tragedy of Adam and Eve’s choice to follow their own way instead of God’s way, and the catastrophe of their rebellion reverberates throughout human civilization. When we consider the testimony of Scripture, should we really be surprised that pain and evil continue to ravage the society around us? And yet, the individual events that reflect the Fall often shock and shake our being. 

It is right to grieve for the destruction that sin brought and continues to bring into the world. Even Jesus lamented for Jerusalem and wept when his friend Lazarus died. He told his followers that they would experience sorrow in their lives too. But he didn’t stop there: Take heart, he said, for I have overcome the world.

Because of Jesus’ victory over the grave, we know that the darkness will not last forever. Those who suffer with him will be raised with him. As believers in Christ, we are blessed by the kingdom come through him while still awaiting the kingdom’s coming in all its fullness. And while we wait, we cry, how long, O Lord?  

Thousands of years after the Old Testament book of Psalms was written, its laments and rejoicings resonate with the already/not-yet experience of believers today. Our faith does not mean that we will never have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Instead, it means that we know Who walks beside us. He walked this way before so we could join with the Psalmist in proclaiming, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

Because Jesus bore our sin and sorrow on the cross and conquered death and hell in his resurrection, we can wait with joy instead of despair as we anticipate being welcomed into the home of our loving Heavenly Father. And we will praise and pray and weep our Lord’s words back to him until we see with our eyes the promises we hold in our hearts. Goodness and mercy will follow us not only in this present life, but through endless days. The light of God’s dwelling with us will one day illuminate the whole earth, and its sighs will change into songs of praise to our victorious King of Glory.

~ Emily Winslow Cox

See also: https://godcallsitgood.com/2022/10/07/love-notes-timeline-edition-episode-10-mr-and-mrs-calvin/