Peace, When There is No Peace

This week has been filled by news of senseless, out of control violence. The capstone for many was the senseless assassination of a devout Christian young man, Charlie Kirk, who was loved by millions for brilliantly and insightfully debating ideas without stooping to insults, challenging perspectives without personal attacks. He believed talking and debating was the way to avoid violent confrontation. He will be deeply missed. Alongside that tragedy is the terrible death of a young Ukrainian refugee in a senseless murder on a subway. She had come to this country for safety but was brutally killed. I was also grieved by the story of  a retired professor murdered walking her dog, another school shooting and murder/suicide in Portland. Internationally people continue to die in the Middle East and Europe as wars threaten to spiral further out of control and drag other countries into the killing. What do we do with all the bad news? It sounds so cliche that I almost don't want to say it, but the only answer we have for the bad news is the good news. There is no other answer to the depravity of humanity except redemption in Jesus. In the words of Jeremiah 8:11, we dare not pretend to "heal this wound lightly, saying 'Peace, peace,' when there is no peace." If you have been grieved by the news this week, like I have, or you are weighed down by the personal tragedies you have been enduring, you need peace, God's peace. We need to see Him who is our peace. This Sunday, we will look again to Jesus and remember that He is our peace.