Last week a high school student in our community passed away very tragically. Although he was not a member of our church, many of his friends were. Many of his friends were drawn to worship with us this morning. It is a tough situation for family and friends to navigate, but it was a beautiful collision of real life and faith.

After our service was over, we gathered all the students and parents effected by the tragedy to the altar for prayer. During our brief moment of prayer, we had the opportunity to give hope! Hope found only in Christ. In the middle of tears and painful guilt, the light of Christ was made known. The Lord divinely placed our church/ ministry in the middle of a beautiful collision of real life and faith. We had several conversations and prayed with many of these students right after we prayed as a group. Students were asking the hard questions, wrestling with their guilt, and looking for hope. Once again, ministry is happening in the midst of a collision of real life and faith. “Why would God allow this to happen?” “Why didn’t God answer my prayer?” “I should have said something!”

No one wants to lose a loved one or a dear friend… We grieve and hurt just as much as the students and family do. But even in the middle of the confusion, the hard questions and the deep hurt, there is a God who deeply desires to be in the middle of it all. Revealing His hope and peace. This is where God is calling us to be. A ray of hope in midst of despair, hurt and questions. We are the beacon of hope.

I’m hurting today and will be journeying through these days of visitations and funerals hoping to be a source of hope for these students. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4

Are you committed to the journey too?