Once again, the national news includes reports of a senseless mass shooting. As a result of these events, there is an increased awareness (and for some, fear and anxiety), that these events could take place just about anywhere. In fact, I was asked by someone if I ever think about the possibility of that happening during one of our worship services, to which I responded, “Yes.”

Besides the immediate reaction of calls for tougher gun laws, there are some who point to these events as “evidence” that God does not exist. After all, if He did exist, why would He allow these tragedies to happen? Obviously, that reasoning is faulty due to the fact that we are not preprogrammed robots. If the whole message were based on the premise of God’s goal being a perfect world with no problems even though humans are able to make bad decisions and do terrible things, then one could say that the story isn’t true. However, the Bible’s message points us not to a perfect world in the present, but to what is to come – heaven. Our role in this life is to be salt and light, influencing through His love as best we can, inviting people to know Jesus and providing opportunities to grow in His love.

So how do we do that? This weekend we remember the Reformation, a 16th century movement led by Martin Luther and others that called people back to the Scriptures to learn from God’s own Word who He actually is and what His story is all about. As people listen to and read that Word, the Holy Spirit changes lives as He leads people to faith in Jesus and helps them to see that they are a part of God’s story.

How much time do you spend in the Word? I encourage you, if you don’t do so already, to have a regular daily devotion time that includes reading and meditation on the Scriptures. We make available Portals of Prayer (available on the table in the south entryway), or you can check out daily devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries or Lutheran Church Charities. More thoughtful time in the Word will result in a more confident faith that goes from “I think God is…” to “I know God is… because God tells me so in His Word.” And that leads to confident trust in a loving and all-powerful God even amid things we cannot understand. We put things into His hands. And as His Story says, those hands were stretched out on a cross for us so we can be with Him for all eternity. So if those hands would do that, those hands are the best place for us to be, complete with all of our pain, anxiety, doubt and fear.