A Prayer of Lament about the Covenant Presbyterian School Shooting

Dear friends, in these days when words are hard to find for our grief, we make the words God has given us in his holy and loving Word our own. Please join me in an attempt at lament:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John1:5

O Lord,

“God of our salvation,

we cry out day and night before you,

Let our prayer come before you;

Incline your ear to our cry” (Psalm 88:1-2)

We bring to you, Oh Lord, our complaint.

This is the way many of us feel right now:

“For these things I weep;

my eyes flow with tears;

for a comforter is far from me,

one to revive my spirit;

my children are desolate,

for the enemy has prevailed” (Lamentations 1:16)

We ask for you to bring

your peace,

your love,

your comfort

and your healing

to all involved in this tragedy,

and to this entire world:

To the families of the victims

To the family of the shooter

To the children, family, faculty, and staff of Covenant Presbyterian School

To all the grieving and traumatized in the community

To the mentally ill

We urge you to bring your justice and peace to this world:

for the day of no more gun violence

for the day of no more evil

for the day of no more tears,

no more death,

no more mourning,

no more pain (Revelation 21:4).

Because of Jesus, we know that day is coming:

Even now, we proclaim this truth:

“The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness has not overcome it.” John1:5

Even now, we pray,

“That we may have strength to comprehend

with all the saints

what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

and to know the love of Christ

which surpasses knowledge,

that [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:17-19).

As we walk these days in the light of your love,

As we live toward the day of resurrection,

we hear you assuring us,

“Behold, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:7).

We cry out,

“Come quickly, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

We hear you respond,

“Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20).

In your tear-wiping name we pray. Amen.

Read Psalm 88; Lamentations; Revelation 21-22; John 1:1-18.