Prayer at Suburban Christian Church on Sunday, December 16, 2012 in response to the Clackamas Mall shooting and the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

Father God, Everlasting Father … today we come to You as One who knows the pain and grief of the death of a child. You watched as Your only begotten Son, the perfect, innocent Son, was brutalized and murdered at the whim of evil worked through the hands of sinful man.

Once again this week we who love You are crushed and tempted to despair as we contemplate so many lives ended, so many relationships lost, at the whim of evil worked through the hands of men enthralled by the Evil one. We are angry … because in the depths of our souls we know that this shouldn’t be. How long oh Lord? How long? You know the answer … now give us strength to wait on You. Give us power to walk in Your Kingdom being ambassadors of Your government, participants in the increase of Your government and peace that knows no end. Show us how to armor up in the full armor of the Spirit, strong in Your mighty power, ready to take a stand against the devil’s schemes. Turn our horror at this violence into an absolute hatred of Satan and sin and death … into recognition of the immensity of sin and sin’s consequences … into joy at Your heart for salvation and Your power to save.

Father God, this week so many lives are in the deepest grief. Happy plans of gifts and celebrations and the joy of drawing close to one another are now plans for funerals and the struggle of just making it through another night and day and breath. Lord You know this pain – bring comfort as only You can comfort. Cause Your people to come alongside and just ‘be’ with those who are grieving. Show Yourself as First Comforter to every grieving heart. In time, and even now, restore joy to those so heavily afflicted and to us.

And now Lord, we long for the day spoken of in Revelation 21:

“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Come quickly Lord Jesus, come!