When Terror Strikes: The Unsettling Call to Forgiveness
As I sit in the comfort of my home, my heart is heavy with the news of yet another senseless act of terror in my country. Families are left to mourn the loss of loved ones, while others face the daunting reality of forever changed lives due to severe injuries. As a follower of Christ, I am compelled to ask: how do I respond to such horrific events?
The Weight of Forgiveness
My initial reaction is to pray for comfort for those who are suffering and courage for those who will embark on the long journey of recovery. But as I reflect on my prayers, I am confronted with a disturbing truth: God loves the perpetrators of this crime just as much as He loves the victims. This realization sparks a mix of emotions within me, from outrage to resistance. How can God’s forgiveness extend to those who have caused such harm?
The Volatile Nature of God’s Forgiveness
I am forced to reexamine the words of Jesus on Good Friday: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34). These words are no longer just a theological concept, but a lived reality that challenges my understanding of forgiveness. I am brought to my knees by the depth and breadth of God’s forgiveness, which is mirrored in Christ’s ultimate sacrifice.
The First Step Toward Forgiveness
As I struggle to comprehend this kind of forgiveness, I am reminded of Peter’s astonishment when Jesus taught that forgiveness goes beyond human expectations (Luke 11:2-4). The first step toward forgiveness is to pray for those who have perpetrated wrongs, seeing them as precious to the Heavenly Father. In this posture of humble prayer, I begin to acknowledge that true justice lies in God’s hands.
A Prayer for Forgiveness
Father, I confess that I have no power to forgive as you do. I ask for your Holy Spirit to give me the will to forgive and the power to live out that forgiveness. As I entrust justice to your hands, I find rest in your sovereignty.
Seeking Justice and Forgiveness
In the face of terror, I am called to navigate the tension between seeking justice and extending forgiveness. While I pray for justice, I acknowledge that true justice is in God’s hands. And it is in those hands that I find peace, even in the midst of chaos.
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