Another Mass Shooting - How to Pray

What do we do when we hear word of yet another mass shooting in our troubled world? We’ve become so familiar with such horror, that once upon a time was unusual in the course of our everyday lives. We are familiar too with the statement that so often is made by our politicians or our media anchors as they try to respond with compassion to the breaking news – the people concerned are in our “thoughts and prayers”. It's also hard not to notice that more and more, it isn't socially acceptable to include 'prayers' in what we as a nation can offer to others.   

But as Christians, we can't give up prayer. What do you pray when you hear of such catastrophic events? Sometimes it's hard to put what we feel into words. 

Flowers and tributes for the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings

I read an article this week that I felt had much to offer in the way of leading in how to pray in these situations, and I wanted to tell you about it.

Taylor Shumann is a young woman all too familiar with the fallout following a mass shooting. In 2013, Taylor was shot when a gunman opened fire at the college she was attending in Virginia, USA. She doesn’t consider herself a victim, but a survivor. She wrote an excellent article which shares great insights when it comes to the power of prayer, and provides an excellent list to prompt practical prayer for those involved in such an event.

Taylor was writing with reference to the shootings that had occurred in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio on August 3 & 4. I came across a page on Wikipedia called List of Mass shootings in the United States in 2019. Yes, such a list exists. If it is correct, it reports that from the date of her article on August 4, until August 14th - just ten days - there were sixteen mass shootings added to that page. 

I have been in touch with Taylor, and I have permission to reproduce an excerpt from her article “I’m a Shooting Survivor. If You’re Going to Pray for Us, Here’s How”.

If I can convince you to do just one thing on this list, I hope it is this one. Keep praying. For many survivors, including myself, the day of the shooting is not the hardest day. The hardest day comes later, when you are confronted with your new reality in the aftermath. When the cards stop coming, when people stop asking how you are, and when the news cycle changes, you begin to feel forgotten and isolated. People praying for you months and years after the shooting is a significant way to show support.

I would encourage you to read the full article as it appeared in Christianity Today from August 4, 2019.  It’s the best guide I’ve seen to helping you focus when you’re wrapped up in the horror, and feeling you don’t have the words to pray.

Taylor lives in South Carolina and is married with a three month old baby son. Somehow, she also finds time to be a freelance writer. You can visit her blog here.  

Tracey 💛

With thanks to Wikimedia Commons for the photo from Christchurch.