Following the tragic shootings that took place in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio this past weekend, many took to social media to express outrage over things like gun control, white supremacy, and even mental illness.
As the death tolls rise, it’s easy to grab your social media megaphone and start placing blame, but in times of hopelessness, we should learn to be still, according to pastor and author Max Lucado.
“More bad news. Killings in El Paso. Shootings in Ohio. All this on the heels of a violent weekend last week. All of this violence adding up to too many mass shootings in just 216 days,” Lucado wrote in a Fox News op-ed. “Is our society coming unraveled? How are we to respond to this dark season of bloodshed?”
“Anger is the choice of many,” he added. “Anger at politicians. Anger at the NRA. Anger at God. We become bitter and sour toward this world; toward one another.”
He added that fear is another option, to “lock the doors and close the windows” in an attempt to hide from it.
“Yet, do we want to be a nation of fear and anger? But what can we do?” he asked.
Sharing a story from the Bible, Lucado illustrated how we should handle our fear when we are facing it straight on.
“When evening came, [Jesus’] disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough,” John 6:16-18 reads.
“The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do,” Lucado shared. “Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes, wide. They searched the sky for a break in the clouds. They gripped the boat for fear of the waves. They screamed their prayers for help. But they heard nothing.”
“They saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But He said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid,’” John 6:19- 20 reads.
Everything changed in that instant because Jesus reminded the disciples that with Him, they should have no fear.
“The literal translation of what Jesus said is ‘I AM; don’t be afraid,'” Lucado explained. “I AM is God’s name. If God had a calling card, it would contain this imprint: I AM.”
“Ever since Moses saw the burning bush that refused to burn up, God has called himself, ‘I AM’ (Ex. 3:14),” he pointed out. “This is the title of steadiness and power. When we wonder if God is coming, he answers with his name: ‘I AM!’ When we wonder if he is able, he declares, ‘I AM.’ When we see nothing but darkness, feel nothing but doubt, and wonder if God is near or aware, the welcome answer from Jesus is this: ‘I AM!'”
Lucado pointed out that in times of trouble, fear, or anxiety, the best thing to do is simply pause and invite God in.
“Our greatest need is his presence. Yes, we want this storm to pass. Yes, we want the winds to still. But yes, yes, yes, we want to know, need to know, and must know that the great I AM is coming.”
He explained that the second the disciples invited Christ onto their boat, was the same moment the reached their “destination,” and the same goes for us.
“So they gladly took him aboard, and at once the boat reached the shore they were making for,” John 6:21 reads.
“Let’s follow the example of the disciples,” Lucado concluded. “Welcome Jesus into the midst of this turbulent time.”