Why Not?

I was numb as I sat in my room at a Silver Bay YMCA Conference Center in upstate New York. I read my phone in utter disbelief: At least 50 dead as Gunman Opens Fire on Las Vegas Music Festival.  

We have seen so much horror before our eyes lately. Hundreds of gunshots shot into a concert crowd in Las Vegas. People wading through waist deep waters in Houston. Florida’s Irma. Mexico’s earthquake. Puerto Rico devastated. And on and on....

Our hearts seem to be breaking more and more lately. But, honestly, what can you and I do? How can we make a difference in an increasingly dark world? We can give financially. We can serve in devastated areas. We can pray for those affected by these tragedies. What else?

If you’re stirred by these things as I am, WHY NOT step out in faith over the thing that God is stirring in you? WHY NOT decide to make a difference? WHY NOT take a risk and be determined not to play it safe anymore?

How do we make a difference? 1. Seek God. Tell Him you want to make a difference.
2. Listen. Yes, wait on God and listen to what He might be speaking to you. What comes to your mind? 3. Gather with other like minds to have a conversation. Share your hearts together. 4. Act! Seek to make a difference.

Don’t forget to pay attention to those hurting right around you! God’s word tells us to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15)  Oh, may we be sensitive people who love well those that we see every day. There may be people right next to you who have experienced deep trauma and pain. Let’s start by making a difference right where we are.

Dear Father in heaven, Our hearts our broken as we remember one week ago and how this tragedy has forever affected so many people. The loss of life and those wounded is beyond our comprehension. The sorrow and mourning of those grieving is incomprehensible. We pray for healing for the survivors and for their loved ones. We ask God to bring not only physical and emotional healing, but spiritual healing. 

Father, our own anger that we feel is a reflection of how things are not right in this world. Lord, we pray that this anger can ignite in us a greater love and deeper prayer for God’s healing and peace to come during times like this. We pray for our heart to be sensitive to our own sin. Let healing begun with me. Lord, we ask that you would empower us to be a blessing to others. Please show us how.

We pray for all leaders in our country. We pray for their wisdom to navigate the roads ahead. We pray for them all to make wise choices for the safety of our country and its people. We pray for the churches in Las Vegas to be ministers of the gospel during this time.  We ask, Lord, that you would make yourself known in our hearts today. Fix our broken world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end.” Psalm 7:9

“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” James 5:16

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.