First off, I would like to say that those who have been affected by last weekend’s tragedies have been in my prayers all week. However, I cannot even fathom the exact pain that the families and friends must be feeling as they grieve through this difficult time.
With that being said, on June 11, 2016 “The Voice” singer, Christina Grimmie passed away.
“A man armed with two guns walked up to the 22-year-old singer as she was signing autographs late Friday night and opened fire," Orlando Police spokeswoman Wanda Ford said.
Christina Grimmie was not only a talented singer and a beautiful person, but most importantly, she kept her faith. She was and still continues to be an inspiration for her talents and her personable YouTube videos. Although I did not know Christina Grimmie personally, it is still very difficult to understand why this happened. But one Bible verse seems to answer this question well: "“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going” (John 14:1-4).
God had a plan for Christina, just as He does for each of us. And yes, it can be unexpected, but God does all things with a purpose even if we cannot understand it.
Just one day after this horrific crime, another huge tragedy occurred in Orlando, Florida. Forty-nine people were killed in the Orlando nightclub shooting.
At this point, my heart is completely broken and my thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of the victims involved in this shooting. I don’t have the words to even express how overwhelming this must be for them. These tragedies as a whole are not gun issues at all. These tragedies are influenced and completely based on the flawed nature of man. It is nothing less than a heart problem.
I don’t know how long it will take for us to understand that people are people, and it doesn't matter what their sin is or what it is not. We need to wake up and realize how fragile our lives are. We need to stop worrying about comparing ourselves and judging others based on their appearance or self-expression. Yes, we are all sinful, and we are all a broken people, but we need to come together with our differences without fighting or arguing. It’s time that we start humbling ourselves. Philippians 2:3-11 explains this perfectly, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”
Therefore, if we see one of our brothers and sisters do something that is an abomination in the eyes of God, we should be a helping hand to them in guiding them in the direction that leads them to Christ. I’m not necessarily here to change the fact this these crimes are going on, but I am here to say that God is in control of all things. The Lord has everything planned out way before we do. Although it's hard to fathom why these crimes occurred, I do trust and have complete faith that God is with those who had faith in Him. This life is temporary, but living with God in Heaven is for eternity! My thoughts and prayers are constantly with you all. Sending love your way, but just remember to keep your faith in the midst of trials and uncertainty. God’s got you.
