(On Monday morning, 3 young children and 3 staff members of a Christian school were murdered by a lone shooter, including the 9-year-old daughter of the church’s senior pastor.)

Father, as we grieve with the six families and their classmates who have suffered the loss of loved ones, we pray for Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, to guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. For the broader community that has been shaken by this evil, we pray they will bring their hurt, anger, fear, and confusion before You in prayer, pouring out their hearts as they lift their gaze to You. May all who are grieved by the evils that surround us find our refuge in You. Help us to give proper expression to our grief, joining the lamentation of the Psalmist as we cry:

• How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
  How long will you hide your face from me?
  How long must I take counsel in my soul
  and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
  How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? (Ps 13:1-2)

With the speculation that these victims were targeted due to their association with Christ and His teachings, we pray for our society to stop vilifying those who tell the truth about sin, in all its forms. Silence the voices of all who seek to foment hatred of others, especially hatred of those who stand against the flood of debauchery that has been embraced by our culture. Let there be an awakening throughout our society to the devastation that is caused by encouraging people to give themselves over to darkness by rejecting Your good designs for human sexuality and gender. Let the light of the gospel penetrate the hearts of all who have been led astray by this wickedness, drawing them near to You – their good and loving Creator – that they may join all the redeemed in rejoicing over the forgiveness of sins and the blessing of embracing Your good designs for our lives. Bless our nation with an awakening to the truth.

In the name of Jesus Christ, our Crucified-yet-Risen Savior, we pray. Amen.