Our job, however, is not to sit around and stew over all of the terrible things happening in our world and mutter about how the world is falling apart. When we hear about bad things happening in our world, there are three things I think we can do:
1) Remember that God is still in control, no matter what anything looks like. Evil exists, but God is still greater. If something bad is happening, God knows about it and is already in the process of making something good come out of that tragedy. Never lose sight of this fact, never give in to despair, and never become a grumbler. That doesn’t help anyone.
2) Pray for the people involved. Recognize that each individual, whether they be a criminal, a victim, or innocent bystander, has been created lovingly by God. Ask Him to help you see them all that way, and pray that God would work in their lives.
3) Ask God how you can be a part of the solution to the problem. Maybe you can help meet someone’s need that’s suffering. Maybe you can encourage others who are struggling. Maybe, in addition to praying, the only thing you can do is help redirect people’s attention to the goodness of God in the midst of a troubling situation. Whatever it is, be a part of the solution.
Let us be patient, hopeful, and kind in these unsettling times.