“I will make peace your governor and well-being your ruler. No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.” Isa. 60:17-18
Lord Jesus, I’m up earlier than normal today—simmering, lamenting, sighing, somewhat angry, definitely sad… weary of the madness. How long, O Lord, until you return and put an end to all violence—whether it’s in the hallways of a Christian school, the crowded space of a “sweet-16” party, on the floor of congress, or in the chambers of our hearts?
When will the dawn break on the Day of no more fruitless arguments between friends or spiteful pettiness between spouses… no more pointing of guns or even pointing of fingers? Jesus, when will “Peace be our governor” and “Well-being our ruler”? Can you hurry it up, please?
You promised wolves and lambs, calves and lions will live together one Day in kindness (Isa. 11:6-9); and that your glory, not our lovelessness, will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. When is that actually going to happen, Lord?
We crave it, but can hardly imagine only using our words to praise you and encourage each other—never again weaponizing our disappointments or even thinking ill of anyone. Until then, Jesus, show us how to live by the Gospel, not by the sword—by the way of your cross, not by the gracelessness in our hearts. May we add to the kindness, not the madness. So Very Amen.