I started this article on the anniversary of the shooting that took place at my youngest child’s school. It was a little after eight in the morning when I received a frantic call from my oldest. I don’t remember every word he said that morning. My heart was stuck on the words, “Active shooter”. I hung up with him and immediately called the baby. One ring into the call and a fear deeper and darker than what I was feeling took root. What if she was hiding? What if the assailant heard her phone ring? What if she didn’t answer? I wish I could write those words without the tears forming in my eyes right now but every time I talk about or even think about that day, feelings come rushing back. Later, I sat with other parents as we waited for any word from our children. I’ll never forget how one co-worker leaned over and asked me to pray and I couldn’t. I couldn’t put the words together. I couldn’t form them. Thoughts were jumbled. Words were scarce. I stared into her eyes and nodded but no words came.
When we’re faced with grief and shock, we tend to think that no one has ever felt as we do. Fear whispers that we’re alone in this and no one will understand. My family sat in our grief and shock until we decided to join others at our church building. Our daughter sat closely between her father and I. We wept and prayed for those who had lost their children. We listened to the wise words from our elders and found a bit of comfort gathering with our church family in our time of darkness.
In Mark 16:1-8 Salome, Mary Magadalene,and Mary, the mother of James, went to the tomb of Jesus. They went for a purpose, to anoint the body of Jesus with burial spices, but they went not knowing how that would be accomplished. They would be unable to move the large stone securing the entrance of the tomb but they went anyway still grieving and still in shock over the death of Jesus. They discussed their limitations on the way, asking each other, “Who will roll the stone away?” These women knew that if God was involved, they would be victorious and as God always does, he showed up.
You may be facing your own darkness today unaware of how it will be worked out or if God even cares. Let me assure you, he does. He aches with you, weeps with you, and is working on your behalf. Go to him even if you’re unsure of his healing. Go to him even if your grief is weighing you down. Move forward in faith even if fear is biting at your heels. Refuse to focus on the fear and seek the Father of comfort and courage. God is faithful. God is here. He is for you.
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.