Dear Lord and Heavenly Father,

We raise our hearts to you in grief for the loss of innocent life. In the prayer You taught us to pray, we petition You to deliver us from evil and that is why it’s hard to understand the why of such evil acts. Why weren’t these children, at prayer, their teachers, their families saved from the evil forces of this world? We cannot know the answer, and because of that, we seek Your solace. 

Please give us, and especially those directly affected, assurance in spite of our incomprehension. While we recognize the pain of it is immeasurable, and the valley seems deep and desperate, we also know that only You can help us to be resolute in the face of such evil, guiding and comforting us, always reminding us of the things you taught us about love and forgiveness. 

Make us like Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego that we, too, may proclaim your greatness, even when we are NOT saved from the evil that would consume us with fire, knowing You are still sovereign. And while we may not understand why, we can know that You are still able to save, and Your love for us is always the same, you are faithful and true, even in our darkest hours and through our most distressful pain.

Help us Lord, also, to pray for those who would mock our prayers and thereby mock Your power and sovereignty. Help us to forgive their folly, knowing full well that they are lost, like we once were. Help us to see their humanity beneath the insolence and vanity and help us to love them in spite of their careless words and deeds. And most of all, Lord, help us to pray that they would be brought to know You and Your greatness.  

In the name of Christ, our redeemer, Amen

8.28.25