Turn on any news station, and what do you see? An inundation of political debates, murder investigations, weather disasters, the list goes on and on. It seems like tragedy after tragedy plagues our society and the situation is out of our hands. Sure we can show how much we care by protesting at a presidential candidate's rally. We can post a strongly worded paragraph regarding our personal stance on gun control laws. We can ensue arguments on social media through comment threads with our "friends," or show support for someone else by liking or favoriting their posts. Yes, social media is a large part of everyday life in today's society. News may spread nearly instantaneously and soon everyone is aware of the most recent tragic event. Social media has power, and it seems as though many people view it as their social duty to present their opinion and get everyone to agree with what he/she says because their position is right. Maybe not everyone feels this way. But one thing we all can do that certainly has way more power than a social media post is: pray.

I think we can all agree that this world we live in is pretty messed up. However, God did not intend for it to be this way. Throughout Genesis chapter 1 as God made the earth, the phrase "And God saw that it was good." is repeated multiple times to describe his creation. God wanted us to live in a good and perfect world, but the introduction of sin prevented this from happening. As we can clearly see around us, the world is in fact not good and perfect, but full of evil and destruction. Bad things are going to continue happening because that is the nature of sin. But the power of prayer is so strong, and amidst all the struggle and pain, God can give us peace. Jesus prayed as he was on the cross "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you." John 17:9

Despite the tragedies that occur in this world, God is still good. He is the ultimate provider of strength and peace in difficult times. And though we may all question why bad things happen, we might never get the answer. But what we can receive from the Holy Spirit is an immense calm and assurance that God will take care of us no matter the circumstances.

So pray. Pray for the children of this world, for their safety in public places and in school. Pray for victims of rape and violence, that they can feel whole again through the guidance of the Lord. Pray for our police officers, teachers, and all those in positions of authority that they can make proper decisions in times of pressure. Pray for families of those who have been murdered, that they may find comfort. Pray for those who have done wrong, that they may have a change of heart. Pray for forgiveness. Pray for peace. Pray for yourself, in whatever areas you may be struggling in. Whatever the need, pray for it. God is listening. Psalm 66:20 says "Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me."

Embrace the true power of prayer. Find peace.