Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close this search box.
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

First Person: Tragedy reminds us ‘God is the ruler, yet’

  • April 9, 2023
  • Union University
  • Featured, First Person, Latest News, Tennessee
(Unsplash photo)

First Person: Tragedy reminds us ‘God is the ruler, yet’

The dark and evil act which took place at Covenant School in Nashville on March 27 has weighed on many of us with especially deep and heavy incalculable grief. Maybe it looms larger because it’s just down the road. Maybe it’s because many of us personally know some who are affected. Maybe the evil of it was compounded in our minds because it involved the deaths of three children and three adults in a Christian school.

There simply are no words.

Caskets of any size are not the way it’s supposed to be, but tiny caskets are especially not the way it’s supposed to be.

Heavy heart

My mind is perplexed. My heart is heavy. My soul is sad. I have found myself waking up in the middle of the night and praying for the families who have lost family members. The world truly is groaning in the pains of childbirth (Romans 8:21).

There are times in this fallen world when we can’t even find the words to pray. When that is the case, the “Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words”  (Romans 8:26). There has been a lot of groaning the last couple weeks.

This past Sunday, our church prayed for our brothers and sisters at Covenant Presbyterian Church. I heard crying throughout our congregation as we prayed for them.

Broken world

Having taken place just a couple weeks before Easter, the shooting at Covenant is another reminder that all sin, all evil, all wrong, yes, all death has been conquered by Christ. In the end, because of Christ’s work, all will be well. Until then, like Andrew Peterson writes, we feel the world is broken. Until then, we feel the shadows deepen. We wish that we could see it all made new.

When you think about the events of Nashville, it seems that we are losing. The world is getting darker and darker. If you don’t know the end of the story, it’s easy to get discouraged. It can be depressing. But Christ is the end of the story. Ultimately, we know that God wins, and He wins through the person and work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Reason to celebrate

Now, the fact that Christ is the end and that God wins in the end doesn’t lessen our grief and pain now.  Even though Jesus raised Lazarus at the end of the story, Jesus wept over his death in the middle of the story. (John 11)

The world we live in now is fallen and broken. There is sin and evil and death. But for those of us who know Christ, sin and evil and death are strong, but they are merely whimpering toward their ultimate defeat. This is why Christians sing, ‘This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.”

The Christ who came and lived and suffered and died was raised from the dead. This is what Christians celebrate at Easter, and indeed, every day.

Let us also remember that this same Christ will one day come again to gather believers to Himself. And when He comes again, “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” (Revelation 21:4).

Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Todd E. Brady, vice president for university ministries, Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • South Carolina youth pastor charged with voyeurism
    South Carolina youth pastor charged with voyeurism
    June 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • ‘Go Now’: 261 TX college students commissioned for summer missions opportunities
    ‘Go Now’: 261 TX college students commissioned for summer missions opportunities
    June 2, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • SBC Executive Committee search team elects officers
    SBC Executive Committee search team elects officers
    June 1, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

South Carolina youth pastor charged with voyeurism

A 35-year-old South Carolina youth pastor was arrested and charged with voyeurism May 27 after allegedly videotaping a woman while she showered, the South Carolina

‘Go Now’: 261 TX college students commissioned for summer missions opportunities

On May 21, college students gathered in Pilgrim Chapel at Dallas Baptist University to be commissioned for the missions they’ve been called to this summer.

SBC Executive Committee search team elects officers

The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee presidential search team met June 1 to elect officers and establish organizational plans for the group. Neal Hughes of

MedAdvance 2023: Registration open for those with passion for healthcare, missions

For those with a passion for healthcare and a calling to missions, the International Mission Board has avenues of service ready to fill. The IMB

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel