Why Tragedies Like School Shootings Shouldn’t Stop Our Prayers
Minneapolis Shooting Sparks Prayer Debate
A discussion on prayer has emerged following the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, where two children lost their lives and others were injured.
The Minneapolis mayor said this about prayer, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers… these kids were literally praying” And the former White House Press Secretary tweeted, “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers.”
Criticism of Prayer After Tragedies
Whenever there’s a tragedy like this, you’ll hear cynical people telling you not to pray. After the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting, one actor tweeted, in response to the prayers tweeted by former House speaker Paul Ryan, “The murdered victims were in a church. If prayers did anything, they’d still be alive.” Then he went on to use an expletive to describe Speaker Ryan. He later apologized.
But those who criticize prayer could not be more mistaken.
We Should Pray Through Tragedy
Amid horrible tragedy and crisis that cause our hearts to break, and leave us with unanswered questions, we should still pray. James 5:16 assures us, “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (NKJV).
Biblical Examples of Prayer in Crisis
When the early church faced a crisis of their own—violent persecution from King Herod—they didn’t turn away from God, they turned to Him in prayer, “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5 NKJV).
And let us remember that Christ Himself prayed as He was crucified, Stephen prayed as he was martyred, and countless other courageous Christians lifted their voices to God in their final moments of life. Through the heartbreak of life, prayer remains important and powerful.
God’s Command to Pray
Scripture even commands us to pray. The apostle Paul wrote, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7 NLT).
Bring Your Requests to God
Do you have needs right now? Pray about it. Do you need His provision? Pray about it. Do you need His healing touch? Pray about it.
No matter what any pundit says, keep praying. God is listening.
—
