Heavenly Father,

We come before You in reverence and awe, acknowledging Your sovereignty over all creation. We praise, worship, and glorify Your holy name, for apart from You nothing is possible, and through You all things are held together.

Untold millions of Your children across the world gather as one flock, having heard the voice of our Shepherd. Yet, Lord, we come with heavy hearts as we witness the brokenness of this world and the tragedies that have unfolded in recent weeks.

So much wickedness surrounds us. So much senseless violence grieves our souls. We struggle to understand, but we are not without hope. You have not left us without truth. You have given us Your Word—authoritative, sufficient, and complete—equipping us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Your Word declares, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Therefore, though we do not fully understand Your ways, we rest in Your providence, leaning not on our own understanding but on Your eternal wisdom, finding peace and comfort in Your promises.

We lift before You the families who are mourning and suffering:

We pray for Erika Kirk and her two children. Lord, may Your Spirit surround them with comfort and strength as they grieve the loss of Charlie. Let them know the nearness of Christ in their sorrow.
We pray for the family of Iryna Zarutska. Father, may Your mercy sustain them in this dark hour, and may salvation be made known to them through Christ Jesus.
We pray for the victims of the recent shootings in Colorado and Minnesota—Matthew Silverstone, Harper Moyski, Fletcher Merkel, and all those affected. Comfort their families with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, and draw them near to You.

Finally, Lord, we pray even for those who have caused such tragedies. We ask that You would pierce their hearts with conviction, bring them to repentance, and lead them to salvation in Christ, that Your name might be glorified even in the darkest of circumstances.

We entrust all these petitions to You, confident in Your goodness, and we pray in the mighty and matchless name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Amen.