It’s 9:48, Wednesday night. January 23, 2019. And I didn’t want to write this. In fact, I wanted to go to bed early tonight. But it has been a terrible day.
Earlier today, I had a breaking news alert on my phone. Another shooting. But this one took place in Sebring, Florida. Sebring is a sleepy, quiet community. I know this because one of my daughter’s sweetest and closest friends from college is from Sebring.
As I read the breaking news, I felt sick. I immediately thought of her sweet friends’ parents. We met them and had dinner with them over parent weekend back in the fall. I texted Michala and asked her to ask her friend if her parents were okay. I told Michala what happened but didn’t want her to blurt it out to her sweet friend.
Michala asked, “How do I word something like this?” I told her to just say I texted and asked about them when I read an event took place there.
Her parents, thank God, were fine. But one of her friend’s mother was one of the victims.
This crap is hitting far too close to home.
I am so over evil people.
The murderers. The thieves. The liars. The cheaters.
I’m over them all. The real life, “monsters” are getting closer and closer to us, it seems.
“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” - 1 John 5:19
Evil is nothing new. There have been evil, wicked people roaming the earth ever since Cain murdered his brother, Abel.
The enemy controls this world and when events like today take place, we are reminded of the evil and the evil power. Those who are righteous and love and live for Jesus do not seek ways to hurt others or get ahead or become famous for a few minutes. Those who lack a love for God the Father, however, do.
Evil people don’t care about murder. Evil people don’t care about stealing from others. Evil people don’t care about lying and cheating. They only care about themselves.
The enemy loves days like today. Days like today make my head, my heart and my stomach, sick. The enemy has control of the world, yes. But the enemy doesn’t have control over us.
Don’t give in to the fear. Trust Jesus.
Don’t give in to the unknown. Trust Jesus.
Don’t give in to “the easy way out.” Work on your faith.
The evil one wants our fear and our worries and for us to kill others or lie to them or cheat them out of what is theirs … but God wants us to trust Him. God wants us to love Him. God wants us to have peace and know that He is just, He is present and He is bigger than the evil one.
We are not children of the enemy. We are children of God. He is our precious Papa who loves us, immeasurably. He allowed His Son to be killed on our behalf. What the enemy intended for harm, God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. (Genesis 50:20)
I have to believe in the power of God’s good reigning. This world is evil and full of wicked, evil people, yes. But our eternity with Papa will be all of His good, and none of the enemy’s bad.
Come quickly, Jesus. We are waiting for You.