On the morning of the Las Vegas tragedy, I stared at the television screen as numbers crawled across the screen reporting deaths and injuries. As the numbers began rising, I could no longer watch. I switched off the television and reached for my Bible and devotional book.

In “Jesus Always,” I read these words: “Trust Me and don’t be afraid. Do not be frightened by the world events or news reports. These reports are biased—presented as if I do not exist. News clips show tiny bits of world events from which the most important factor has been carefully removed—My presence in the world…. Whenever your world is feeling like a scary place, turn to Me and encourage yourself in My Presence.” I began to pray.

Later in the day, the words of a Chris Tomlin song, “Jesus,” sang through my mind:

“HE walks on the water.

He speaks to the Sea.

He stands in the fire beside me.”

Jesus will literally walk on the water to reach us in times of trouble. He can speak to the storm, and it will stop. But quite often, when the storm continues to rage and the fires burn hotter, He will stand beside us and supply unbelievable strength.

In first Samuel 30, there is the story of David on a day when it looked as though he had lost everything. While David and his men were elsewhere, the enemy had swept through their camp, abducted the women and children, and burned everything in sight. As David stood in the ashes mourning the loss of his own family, his men began placing the blame on David; they became so angry, they threatened to stone him.

There was only one thing to do. In the midst of tragedy–David turned to God. The scripture says: “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” He then inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them?” God answered and told David what to do. David and his men then pursued the enemy and recovered all that had been lost.

As we grieve in the midst of the recent tragedy, many people will shout and place blame and give superficial answers for our American problems, but God’s people must seek God’s answers. There is a time to stand in the ashes and mourn, but as we mourn, we must confess our own sins, receive forgiveness, and reach out to the hurting people in prayer. We can encourage ourselves in the Lord by looking back and giving thanks for what God has done for America through the years.

Recently I read a quote from World USA:

“The problem is not guns! It’s hearts without God, homes without discipline, schools without prayer and courts without justice.”

When we cannot see JESUS walking on the water and the storm continues to rage, we can know that HE is standing beside us and receiving our prayers in behalf of our nation and its leaders. I believe that what John Wesley said is absolutely true: “God does nothing on earth save in answer to prayer.” When we align our will with God’s will, He is able to use our prayers in the process of bringing His Kingdom to earth.

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Contact Virginia Dawkins at jtdawk06@aol.com.