Las Vegas Shooting

A Prayer for Victims of the Las Vegas Shooting

on October 2, 2017

I could hardly believe the front page news headlines Monday morning. The Las Vegas shooting claimed at least 58 innocent lives and injured 500 more, at the time of writing. “The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history,” one report read. Another mass shooting. Another time of national mourning. Another call to prayer.

Prayer is more than a hashtag or an obligatory nod to the current social justice issue at hand. For Christians, prayer is a lifeline of hope when our minds fail to process in the midst of trauma. As the details of this hideous crime still unravel, so many of us are feeling confused and frustrated. We seek answers, solutions, comfort, and justice. So let us pray:

Oh Lord, hear us! Brokenhearted we approach you. Anxious we need you.

It’s hard to know where to start. We cannot imagine the pain of those who’ve lost loved ones as a result of evil. Heavenly father, mend shattered families with your comfort. Help grieving mothers, fathers, children, husbands, and wives to deal with their sadness and anger. Please grant them your peace that surpasses all understanding, as your word tells us in Philippians 4:7.

Thank you for the survivors. We pray against post traumatic stress reactions to gunfire and nightmares. Lord, we pray for those left behind. Please block the traumatic experiences of watching the death of friends and strangers, alike. There will be no “getting back to normal life.” please grant your peace in their lives as they struggle to move forward.

We lift up the wounded. Countless innocents are clinging to life. Others are mentally processing the bullets’ permanent damage done to their bodies. Almighty, please heal physical and emotional injuries of the wounded. Let them bear witness to your miraculous healing.

Help the helpers, oh Lord. Give wisdom to doctors, nurses, medics, counselors, ministers, and volunteers as they provide aid in the midst of this atrocity. Grant them strength to work through their fatigue.

Show us all how to lovingly and justly respond to the hurt and suffering.

In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

  1. Comment by Will Putz on October 2, 2017 at 10:59 pm

    Thank you!

  2. Comment by Sheryl on October 3, 2017 at 11:34 am

    Thanks so much!!

  3. Comment by James Foreman on October 3, 2017 at 1:46 pm

    How about asking God to open the eyes of our elected officials to the carnage of gun violence in this nation that they facilitate through inaction?

  4. Comment by Jim on October 3, 2017 at 3:54 pm

    Thank you for sharing your prayer. It does a nice job of expressing what many are thinking.

  5. Comment by AS on October 6, 2017 at 11:50 pm

    Such a timely and beautiful prayer. I prayed along with your prayer because every word is on time and is needed. Thank you for acknowledging Christ Jesus and inviting Him to heal the survivors and grant peace to those who are the loved ones of the departed. You can count on those , many of those who are praying this way

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