Photo: www.Whitehouse.gov

42 years ago today, President John F. Kennedy was assasinated in Dallas, Texas. You may have heard your parents tell the story of ‘where they were’ when they heard the news that JFK was shot.

Every generation has certain national tragedies burned into their collective memories. Just as our parents will always remember JFK, my childhood was marked by the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. None of us will forget where we were when we saw planes flying into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

How should we think about days like today? We make a big deal of commemorating fond memories: we sing happy birthday, we send anniversary cards, we even roll out parades for major national holidays. But what about tragedies, national or personal? How should we, as Christians, think about days like this? I think it is good for us to seize days like this to remember:

• The world in which we live is ruined, tainted, corrupted by sin. Any hope we place in this world will ultimately be disappointed. 2 Corinthians 5:2, 4 reminds us that our bodies are mere ‘tents,’ in which we groan as we look forward to heaven. So we shouldn’t be surprised by tragedy. Theologian D.A. Carson says, “All you have to do is live long enough, and you will suffer.”
• God gives us grace through Jesus Christ to endure hardship and tragedy in this world. In fact, Jesus himself was acquainted with suffering and is able to help us because of what he experienced: “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)
• One day, Christians will enjoy heaven, free from the tears, pain, and trial that come from sin. I love these words from Revelation 21:3-4 : “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’”
• In the meantime, we can pray. Philippians 4:5-7: “The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

There is a lot more we could say, but this is a good start. I’m telling you this because I want you to be prepared. Tragedy is inevitable in a fallen world, and I hope that I am able to prepare you to respond to the temptations to fear, worry, and unbelief with confident, God-centered trust and prayer.

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