How do we respond to tragedies like the brutal attack on tourists in Sousse, Tunisia last week?
Are we driven to fear like the many people cancelling their holidays to Tunisia?
Maybe we are filled with rage and a desire for retribution like the politicians calling for renewed military action against IS in Syria.
Or maybe we’re just sad at yet another in a series of senseless losses of life.
I know it reminds me again, of the many different atrocities that have been carried out against our Christian brothers and sisters, with only a muted desire from the West to help.
Put that all together and it easily makes us feel powerless. And so the minute’s silence today will provide me with a strong temptation to wallow in that helplessness, and weariness – a small insignificant speck that is unable to achieve anything.
But as we stand in silent unity with our countrymen today, we can invest that minute, by entering into the throne room of our heavenly Father through the mediating presence of his precious Son in the power of the Spirit to cry out to him in prayer.
Let’s pray trusting that he really does work all things for the good of those who love him – even through terrible tragedies.
And what shall we pray? Let’s meet him as we are, scared, insecure and powerless, but coming to him, the one who is in Sovereign control of all things. The one who works through the weakness of jars of clay like us, to spread his gospel light with all of his creation power in the world around us.
Let’s pray trusting that he really does work all things for the good of those who love him – even through terrible tragedies.
And let us pray with John as he reflects on the vision of the future he was shown in the book of Revelation, "Come Lord Jesus!"