There is hope for a hopelessly violent culture

John 3:16

King James Version (KJV)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I I have seen too many news reports recently of missing people who have fallen victims to violent crime. One sad report I read  concerned a young 24 year old woman who was murdered at the hands of her boyfriend who she was simply trying to break up with the night she disappeared. Another heart breaking report reported that the body of a young woman had shown up when a barge employee saw a floating body underneath the barge. This woman was violently taken by her estranged husband one night once she got off her shift at the Mall of America. 

We keep reminding ourselves that this happened to them, but it will never happen to my family, or the people  I know. That all changed when my wife read an email from her brother letting her know that their cousin Jack Sjol had been missing since April 24th, 2013 after what appeared to be a violent confrontation. Violent crime has now hit close to home. Survivors of crimes of this nature go through many sleepless nights hoping and wondering if they would ever see their loved one again. 

Parents of missing children grieve with heavy hearts, hoping and praying, that their child would return home and in some cases completely collapse when they receive the news that no parent wants to hear that they found the body of their child.  There are no words to describe the pain that these parents, siblings, and aunts and uncles are going through with this type of loss. Shock, anger, depression, are common place.  Life has suddenly loss it's meaning when the one you once had meaningful conversations with is missing. Hopelessness and a desire to die becomes a reality for those caught in the throes of losing a loved one to a violent crime

People who are in the throes of this type of grief need trusted listeners who are willing to travel with them on their forlorn journey of grief. A journey that will have no end in sight. A journey that is as unique as the relationship they had with the person who fell victim to a violent crime.

In a world of hopelessness there is hope. In a world where pain and suffering and every unimaginable sin seems to reign God sent his son into the world to have a relationship with us. God knows first hand what it means to be a victim of a violent crime. He saw firsthand how violent humanity was when his son Jesus was crucified on the cross of Calvary. He saw the Roman soldiers stick spears into him, spat at  him, flogged him with chains, and followers who once followed Jesus curse him. You see, God understands our pain and he wants to walk with you on your painful journey.

In June 2007 we entered our painful journey the night of June 10th when our little girl, Maria, died the first night home from the hospital where she had successful surgery. Shock, anger, depression were the common themes of our lives for the next several years. Just as many were walking away from us because they didn't know how to help us God stepped in and  helped our family by walking with us each step of the way. God brought to each of us trusted listeners who  were to travel with us on this lonely journey of grief.

If you have been a victim of a violent crime you can have this very same presence that our family had simply by praying this prayer: " Dear Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and cannot enter into heaven because of my own works.  I know that you died for all of my sins. I open the door to my heart and invite you to come, and walk with me on my lonely journey. I know that with your help I will get through this journey of seemingly hopelessness and despair. Thank you Jesus for your free gift of eternal life.