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Monday, April 16, 2007

Heavy Hearted, Yet Not Without Hope

With the nation and the world, out hearts are heavy today in the face of such senseless and murderous events on the campus of Virginia Tech. The news screams the largest mass-killing in the nations history, a campus is in shock and families are left to deal with overwhelming tragedy painfully embodied in the loved ones they mourn. Honestly, I have no idea what to feel and am grappling to take it all in. An ocean of tears flow as darkness falls, and a long night of agony and questioning awaits those who have lost friends, brothers, sons, sisters and daughters.

Though the darkness closes in, I believe that God is on His throne, and that He is good beyond our wildest dreams. He is the Savior of the whole wide world. Yet we are living in shattered days, a faint image of what He hoped and dreamed for us all. And today, the weight of our fallen race seems too heavy to bear.

As we pray for those who have suffered great loss, and the greater Virginia Tech community who have faced unforgettable mayhem, we are carried along by a God who has felt the crushing blows of broken humanity and carried our sins to the cross. He is Lord over life and death, and His grace is not just mighty to save from the grave and hell...His amazing grace is enough when the pathway leads through the valley of the shadow of death.

I know that He is now holding all who weep and carrying those who cannot take another step. I know that His grace is sufficient for the worst day of our lives. I know that He will never let go of those who put their hope in Him.

So with unspeakable sadness we ask for mercy in these days, praying that life will come from death, that light will shine in darkness and that all who look to Him will be rescued and restored.

We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:20-22

[We have started (as have many) the Facebook Group "Passion Prays For Virginia Tech." Please stop by and join those who are praying for the VT family and the friends and families of those who have suffered loss.]

posted by 268gen at 9:22 PM

26 Comments:

  • good post bro...thanks for putting words to all that we're feeling...

    By Blogger '09 Ukraine Orphan Care Trip Team, at 4/16/2007 10:52 PM  

  • Heavenly Father , Please enfold in Your loving arms those with broken, shattered hearts because of this tragedy. Comfort them in their grief.
    " The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart." Psalm 34 v18'
    Gail, Keith and Rowan.

    By Blogger gail, at 4/16/2007 11:42 PM  

  • Amen!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/16/2007 11:53 PM  

  • I will continue to be praying for the students, faculty, families and friends that have been affected by this tragedy. May the love of Jesus be shown through all those in the Blacksburg area who can represent our Savior in a loving manner.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 12:29 AM  

  • praying together for the students at VA tech, their families & friends, and all who were affected by this horrible tragedy, (in addition to those who knew the gunman)...
    praying that You would be their Comfort...
    their Peace...
    their Shelter ...
    and their Strength during this traumatic time ...

    and when they are processing through their shock, disbelief, anger, and grief... please show Yourself as the God of all Comfort to them... Where ever each person stands at their walk with You, please give them a hunger for You. Draw them closer to You Lord, and use this thing that was meant for evil instead for good, as only You can. Let them sense You holding them near. We are grateful for your mercies, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort 2 Cor 1:3b ~

    By Blogger Kimmer, at 4/17/2007 12:50 AM  

  • praying hard for those folks at VT. i had a friend who goes to VT who is fine but thanks for the post and saying what so many of us need to hear now. thanks louie.

    *i pray that all those who were there during this awful time and all the families that u trust in God during this time and run to Him because even though it may hurt so bad that you feel you can't even take another step,just trust in God. just trust in Him and I can promise that He will take you through this. God please help and comfort these people and all of the country as we try and grasp the magnitude of what has just happened. we love you God.*

    made to worship,
    rachael

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 1:32 AM  

  • PASSION TEAM...Theres no dought that this was a blow to our hearts and to many across the nation. Its beyond words to descibe feelings after this horrific incident. My hope is that there will be Christian students,leaders,men and woman who would be able to "GO" and to pray with these students. If i could hop a plane from Seattle i would....as sad as this is....THIS ALSO IS NOW a time for us to SHINE as light in a place that is needing a incredible saviour right now!!! Who can lead and help those who desperately need JESUS!!! What GOD can do here can be for eternity!!!! IM HOPING THERES SOME WHO WILL GO OUT OF THERE WAY TO REACH THESE PEOPLE...JUST AS JESUS IS STILL REACHING OUT TO US....AND THEM.

    By Blogger WORSHIPPAINTER, at 4/17/2007 1:50 AM  

  • I just wanted everyone to know...a good friend of mine started this group on facebook called "Pick a Hokie", where you go and pick a student, send them an email and let them know that you're praying for them. Here's the link for the group: http://auburn.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2333148375.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 8:43 AM  

  • My heart is broken. I know God is holding all of these families. We cannot begin to imagine "why", but God will not let go of us. He is here with us in the midst of all that is happening. My prayers and thoughts are with them. May they see the comfort in the grace of God through all of this.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 8:50 AM  

  • Come quickly, Lord Jesus! And while You tarry, keep us free from the sin of this world. Oh, make our little lives count for the glory of Your name and for the fame of Your Father. Rivet our attention on Your cross, and fuse our affections to Yourself. Waken our compassion for all who suffer, especially those who are rushing toward everlasting misery because of unbelief. So open our mouths and open our hands and open our wallets while we have breath, and make us the most radically loving people on earth, for the joy of all peoples and the renown of Your name, Amen. -Stolen from John Piper's "Life as a Vapor"

    By Blogger Zack, at 4/17/2007 10:23 AM  

  • praying for you all at virginia tech.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 10:27 AM  

  • This comment has been removed by the author.

    By Blogger Janelle, at 4/17/2007 10:40 AM  

  • ...speechless, but joining many of those in prayer.... because God knows what we always try to say even when we do not know how to say it. that's one of the amazing things about our God who is there to comfort all those hurting in the palm of his hands.

    By Blogger Janelle, at 4/17/2007 10:43 AM  

  • Our hearts are with you all.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 10:54 AM  

  • a prayer for Virginia Tech-

    Lord how much you love each heart that had life taken away from it. How much you love each heart that now prepares for funerals, with grief and shock that overwhelms. How much you love the staff at Virginia Tech - use those on and around campus who know You to be your healing hands and feet.

    You put us back together when we come undone. Do that now Father, please do that now. Continue to send your Spirit to comfort like only You can.

    Love you Jesus. Continue to show us how to pray.

    amen

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 11:26 AM  

  • I believe God is in control of this situation. I pray He will bring comfort to the students of Virginia Tech and also to the families of the victims.. It is a sad day indeed... a horrible tragedy... but God is in control!

    By Blogger gRaCe~!, at 4/17/2007 12:39 PM  

  • Louie,

    Thank you for your heart felt and poetic post!! AS tears fall for me as well and my prayers offered, trying to make sense of the tragedy at the incredible loss and for the victims and their families, urgency speaks to my spirit & soul to reach the lost (never know when our time is up & how many chances we have left to say Yes to our Savior!!)

    I am sure that Jesus in heaven is mourning the loss with us and will grant us His love, peace, & mercy in the difficult days ahead.

    As many are doing now, I also called my sister at ECU to connect with her and tell her that I love her and to be safe.

    I pray God's mercy, strength,peace, and everlasting love over the VT tech community. I also pray for the church leaders and the Christian community as they reach out and show the compassion of Christ to their neighbors who are and will be stuggling in they days and months ahead.

    In Christ,
    Angela

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 1:11 PM  

  • keep up your prayers! They are powerful, believe it :)
    the names are out now, and there will be still more mourning here...but I can't tell you how much God's hand is over the Christian body here at Tech. Too many people have been protected yesterday morning...

    By Blogger Josh, at 4/17/2007 1:35 PM  

  • Praying for the VT community...under His wings you will find refuge.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/17/2007 2:21 PM  

  • Great Post Mr. Giglio
    You put into words what I was feeling. Praying for all the students that go to VT. and for the families and friends who have lost a loved one. I pray that they would feel God's comfort and compassion during this time. I know the Lord is watching over them all.

    By Blogger FanofGOD, at 4/17/2007 3:47 PM  

  • Oh, wow. I live in Maine, and I've lost power because of the storm. I didn't hear about this until this afternoon when I finally made it to school and was able to get online.

    Heartbreaking. May the God of peace be near to them.

    By Blogger Jessica, at 4/17/2007 4:19 PM  

  • Our hearts are heavy, but thank You Jesus that You are our Hope and that we know how the story ends!

    Father God, be with the campus ministers, church staffs, counselors, and others ministering Your Word & Light during this time - increase the capacities of their hearts and grant them endurance, strength, and wisdom. Protect them with Your full armor so that they may stand firm in the frontlines of this battle...

    We pray in the Spirit on this occasion with all kinds of prayers and requests. Help us to be alert and to always keep on praying for all the saints...

    In Jesus' Name.

    By Blogger sandra r., at 4/17/2007 7:19 PM  

  • Many are praying for you... I am one of them.

    Many weep with you... I am one of them.

    Many are perplexed... I am one of them.

    Many long to carry your grief with you... I am one of them.

    Many crave the end to seemingly senseless events... I am one of them.

    Many wish they could wake up to find this was all just a terrible nightmare... I am one of them.

    Few know what it feels like to experience the death of a son or daughter in the face of hellish injustice...

    God is one of them.

    David Guion - one24worship.com

    By Blogger David Guion, at 4/18/2007 6:38 AM  

  • I came to the Passion site because I knew here, believers with the same heart for God and college students would gather and grieve. Thank you Louie and all for being that community, that hand and heart of Christ in such a dark time. You said what many of us could not, and so beautifully. This tragedy makes crystal clear why what Passion is and does is so needed. May God continue to raise up a generation for His renown...

    By Blogger m, at 4/18/2007 9:27 AM  

  • wouldn't this be a powerful time of worship on VT's campus...Lord i ask that you continue to lead them

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4/18/2007 10:53 AM  

  • 2 Corinthians. 1:3-5 (NIV)
    "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

    When there are no answers, our God of love is always there to comfort those who are hurting.

    By Blogger Janelle, at 4/18/2007 11:16 AM  

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