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Choosing the optimistic response.
Over the last few days and weeks, we have witnessed in great shock and sorrow an increase in violence and hate. Innocent blood continues to be shed, hopes and dreams dashed.
As the news and horrific details of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on September 10th flooded the internet, I myself fell prey to the “black pill” of hopelessness, bitterness, and despair. I felt sick.
But letting our hearts be swallowed up by darkness is exactly what the enemy wants. We must fight hard against that, against the urge to surrender to fear. We have to be brave, like Charlie.
By choosing to respond to tragedy with optimism, we are standing up for higher values, for what’s good, noble, and pure. And we are being supported by God’s righteous hand.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10
Choose Deep Hope
At the darkest moments of our lives, let’s choose hope.
Let’s hope in the goodness of God and in all His promises. Let’s hope for the eternal salvation that comes to all believers through Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice of love on the cross.
God made His creation with a deep capacity to give and receive love, kindness, and compassion. That capacity is tested and strengthened in the difficult moments we face.
We are living through some of those moments. Our response to tragedy, trials, persecution, and uncertainty will show the content of our hearts, the strength of our faith, and the fruit of our tree.
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:43-45
Choose Clear Action
Jesus taught us to love our enemies, forgive those who transgress against us, turn the other cheek, and go the extra mile.
He also taught us to take up our cross and follow Him. He asks us to go out two by two, and take His message and the power of His name to the ends of the earth.
After the death of their friend, their teacher, their Lord, the apostles were paralyzed with fear. They hid in a dark room, unable to come to terms with reality, afraid for their own lives.
Jesus broke into the room, a light to shatter all darkness. Then, the Holy Spirit came to fill them with wisdom and courage. Emboldened by His grace, they burst through the door of their hiding place to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts and kindle the graces we need to move from fear to action, clear action. And may our actions be guided by God’s Truth, and by His Will.
Action is what we do with the pain and indignation. We are to turn it all over to God for a good we can’t yet see. The path gets clearer as we walk by faith and leave a trail of good works.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Galatians 5:22-23
Choose Inner peace
Moments of great sorrow, confusion, and uncertainty can rob us of our interior freedom.
The world and the evil forces that inhabit it are always working hard to agitate us, sowing seeds of doubt in our hearts.
We must remember Jesus’ first words to His apostles when He met them in their darkest hour. He offered peace, His peace. And this perfect, pure, and transcendental peace is the “white pill” that scatters all shadows and heals all evil.
We can bring Jesus’ peace into our hearts by asking Him for it through prayer. In conversation with Jesus, we can feel His presence, His peace, and His love.
Our Lord went through the most cruel treatment, painful trials, and agonizing death. Yet, through it all, He showed us the face of true love, fortitude, and perseverance.
With His ultimate sacrifice, He showed us nothing, and nobody can take away our peace when we rest firmly in God.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
John 14:27
For the peace and rest of Charlie Kirk’s eternal soul. For his loving wife, young children, family, and friends. For his legacy of courage and faith. For the healing of this world, and all of our aching hearts.
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