In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. – (Psalm 4:8, NLT)
The Lord gives His people strength. The Lord blesses them with peace. – (Psalm 29:11, NLT)
But all who listen to Me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm. – (Proverbs 1:33, NLT)
There have been four shootings in the last forty-eight hours in my city – three of which were fatalities. What once was a sleepy little town, is growing and changing, and the bounty of broken and hurting people has blown up. I see it in the schools, where kids come and try to navigate the new, with a very different set of standards guiding them as they go. Many are in crisis, and are simply in survival mode. How do we best meet needs and love all who come, just as Jesus calls us to love? We are not called to be afraid, nor hide away in fear, yet neither are we asked to be foolish. The Lord grants wisdom to all who seek Him, and gives strength where we have none. His peace surrounds us and keeps us safe, despite the seeming destruction of what we formerly knew to be true. There is no easy answer nor simple solution when the safety of one’s city has been stolen by violence. However, change begins with one. One act of kindness. One extension of encouraging words. One person providing peace in the midst of scattered storms… If we seeks the Lord and listen to Him, He will grant us strength and wisdom, removing the fear that has fought to find footing around the brutal acts of broken people. May we let Love be what leads us; not fear.
As the day closes,
And fear tries rush in;
I lean on the Lord,
Where comfort begins.
The Source of all strength,
In chaos, our peace;
Protector, Savior,
Where grace is released.
He loves the hurting,
The scorned and broken;
He’s asking of us,
To be truth spoken.
Not just with our words,
But in love, choose serve;
Meet needs before us,
His peace to preserve.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our Source of peace and strength, no matter what surrounds us. Thank You that in You, we need not fear – for You keep us safe from harm. Father, I lift my city before You, and ask that You would move mightily in the hearts of all who love You, so that we may seek You and obey whatever You ask of us to bring peace into this place. Forgive us for our fearfulness when we see so much violence in such a short span of time. Teach us to turn to You in trust, so that we would hear what You would have us do, and then we would go forth and obey. Show us how to love all who are hurting around us, so that they might come to know Your perfect peace for themselves. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You for strength and peace. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. – Psalm 145:8
Revelations In Writing 
Shannon, I’d like your permission to re-post this on my blog. It speaks such horrible truth about the world these kids today are trying so desperately to navigate and figure out. I teach and work in our children’s ministry and VBS at our church. I am deeply grieving over what these kids have to deal with on a daily basis. I will pray for you and the many teachers I know and worship with. Our area as well has been captured by violence. We see news about shootings two or three times a week. I have been thinking about devoting a week to posts to kindness. I’m still praying about how to present it. Would you be willing that week, whenever it is, to contribute a post on kindness? I would be delighted to share your comforting, compassionate thoughts with my readers. Let me know. And thank you for these words today. EVERYone needs to hear them.
Of course, and thank you for caring so deeply for kids. I would be happy to contribute a post. Blessings of peace to you.