Christ in the Midst of Tragedy
In the aftermath of the Texas church massacre, many are wondering where God is in the midst of this. God has never left. He’s in the prayers, hearts and actions of those who love Him. Christ is in the midst of even this tragedy.
Calling the massacre the largest mass shooting in Texas history, Texas Governor Greg Abbott called on God on behalf of the victims and their families.
“We ask for God’s comfort, for God’s guidance and for God’s healing for all those who are suffering,” Abbott said in a press conference.
.@GovAbbott offered words of mourning before meeting with
families of Sutherland Springs shooting victims. https://t.co/YAre0fZfhd pic.twitter.com/IzvNBPzVGx— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 6, 2017
.@GovAbbott: "We ask for God's comfort, for God's guidance, and for God's healing for all those who are suffering." #SutherlandSprings pic.twitter.com/uCwCVaUemC
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 5, 2017
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick spoke about the shooting and the strength Christians draw on in the middle of such a tragedy. “We do not stand down when we are attacked,” he said. “We stand up for the God that we love.”
Matthew 10:22 says, ‘They will hate you, everyone will hate you because of me but those who stand firm [to the end] will be saved.’ And that’s how we get through these times as believers. And nonbelievers have a hard time understanding that. They have a hard time understanding loving our opponents, praying for those who come against us, but we believe in our faith and faith is what gets all of us through this, will get these families through this. This is wickedness, it’s depravity on a level that people can barely imagine. … I’ve just seen this happen more and more. This mocking and attacks on Christians. As if it’s okay. … As Christians we stand firm on a day like today in our faith. We will not be shaken in our faith in Jesus Christ. It’s a dark time but as believers, we know what the Bible has said about it.
.@DanPatrick: "We do not stand down when we are attacked. We stand up for the God that we love." https://t.co/YAre0fZfhd pic.twitter.com/zo8VnOmw9T
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 5, 2017
One parishioner of a nearby church came to help and pray.
We got the call in the middle of our service down there, down the road and immediately … my wife who is a nurse in the local hospital went into action. We have a deputy that went into action, along with other people. We got ready and then we just did what we do, we prayed. The Bible tells us that we overcome evil with good. Evil can only be overcome by good. So, we came together to do that immediately.
Texas Shooting Witness: We Have to Overcome Evil With Goodhttps://t.co/aqM4cheMPk
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 5, 2017
More than 100 people attended a prayer vigil for victims and victims’ families.
Texas church shooting: @GregAbbott_TX joins more than 100 at prayer vigil near murder scene https://t.co/LRJ9er0FqQ pic.twitter.com/48T6e1jXx6
— Fox News (@FoxNews) November 6, 2017