When Tragedy Strikes, God’s Light Still Shines

Like many people, I woke up with a heavy heart this morning, wondering how and why the world can be so broken. Yesterday, a coward assassinated Charlie Kirk—a man who spoke truth with love, who would debate anyone with respect, and whose greatest mission was to proclaim that Jesus Christ had saved his life. And today marks the anniversary of 9/11, another day of immense loss and sorrow that changed our nation forever. Though these two events are different, they share a painful similarity: evil rising up against truth.

Yesterday morning, before the news broke, we started our day with a Bible study on God’s communicable traits. We read Micah 6:8, 2 Corinthians 7:1, and 1 John 4:7–11. While God has countless incommunicable traits we could never embody, He has also given us traits we can live out—love, justice, and holiness, to name a few.

Yesterday the president ordered flags at half staff for Charlie Kirk. Today the flag remains there for 9/11.

With my kids, we talked about what it means to love others as God loves us. True love doesn’t blur the lines of truth—it stands on God’s design and the bible. We can love people who disagree with us, but love doesn’t mean condoning lies. Love means kindness, compassion, and pointing people back to the truth that they are fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image.

We also talked about justice. Justice doesn’t mean taking matters into our own hands or hurting others when we think they deserve it. Justice is God’s to carry out. For us, living with justice means standing up for those being hurt or silenced and standing firmly for truth—but always in love.

Finally, we talked about holiness. Holiness isn’t perfection, but daily pursuit. Reading God’s Word, praying, and talking with Him like a loving Father and faithful Friend. Holiness is doing our best each day to reflect Him in how we live.

Later that morning, as part of history, we studied JFK and his assassination. My kids were fascinated as we watched his famous inauguration speech and clips from that tragic day. Not long after, during a break, I scrolled through Facebook and saw the devastating news about Charlie Kirk being shot. Immediately, I dropped to my knees in prayer—praying for the doctors, for his family, and for a miracle. When confirmation of his death came later, it was heart-breaking.

It wasn’t until I started writing this that I realized the connection between our Bible study and Charlie’s life. That’s just how God works. Charlie Kirk lived out love, justice, and holiness every day. He loved others by speaking the truth. He pursued justice by defending the unborn and standing for those without a voice. He walked in holiness by boldly proclaiming the Word of God to all who would listen. He was a shining example for all of us.

Tragedy is impossible for us to fully understand. From the assassinations of JFK and Martin Luther King Jr., to school shootings, the Holocaust, 9/11, and now Charlie’s murder—our human minds can’t make sense of it. But God’s Word gives us hope in the midst of what feels impossible. Genesis 50:20 reminds us that what others intend for evil, God can use for good. Romans 8:28 assures us that He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

My heart, like many others, is heavy today. But we must cling to God’s promise: evil will not prevail. His love, His justice, and His holiness endure forever.

One last word and caution about yesterday's event: if you come across the video of

Charlie’s murder, I urge you not to watch or share it. Yesterday, I made the mistake of watching two versions (one far away, one close up), and those images have replayed in my mind over and over. Before dropping Ivy off at the high school for weights in the afternoon, I warned her not to watch it—and I was grateful later when she told me she resisted seeing it in the locker room when a group of friends watched. Social media can expose us to images we can’t unsee, and they are not healthy for our hearts or minds. We do not need graphic details to grasp the weight of tragedy.

Instead, let us fill our eyes and minds with God’s Word, and let our voices and posts reflect His hope. Charlie Kirk’s legacy lives on, not just because of what he stood against, but because of Who he stood for.

Evil struck yesterday, but the light of Christ still shines. And it always will.