The country is reeling from Sunday night’s shooting in Las Vegas leaving 59 people entering eternity, 527 injured, and thousands of others who fled for their lives terrified. We have a God in heaven who is grieving harder than anyone, and who longs to be the strong support, protection, and comfort for all those hurting.

Why Me?

Many are wondering, “Why me?,” and must go through the struggle of processing that.

• Why them?
• Why was my loved one affected?
• Why was I affected?
• Why did I live through it?
• Why wasn’t I affected?

Just a few weeks ago, my husband Adam was in Las Vegas for a work conference and stayed in the same hotel just two floors down from where the shooter was Sunday night. We’re no partiers , so he sought out fun by going to a concert while he was there. That brings it close to home for me.

Action That Matters

So, what can we all do? One immediate action we all have it to go before the Throne of the One Who cares more about each person suffering than we ever can. How can we pray through this time of grief and sorrow? -this time that begins a long season of grief and healing for many. Consider these requests and Scriptures:

10 Prayer Requests

1. The Father of All Comfort: Pray for the Father of all comfort to console them through waves of intense negative emotions, such as grief, shock, guilt, sorry, numbness, disillusionment, anger, depression, and fear.
2. Loving, Listening Ears: pray for believers in their lives to be good listeners, always ready to let them talk it out and be a shoulder to cry on when needed.
3. Processing Grief and Loss: Pray for them to give themselves the freedom to grieve the loss of loved ones who died. Grieving takes time. Pray they would not rush or suppress it, but would process it with God’s help and receive peace and comfort only He can give.
4. Protection: Pray God would protect them from further dangerous and harmful situations that could exacerbate their fear.
5. Privacy and Healing: Pray God would protect them from being overwhelmed by media and general inquiry that feel like intrusions into their distress. Pray for help sleeping, concentrating, eating, remembering things, and taking care of daily tasks and priorities while they heal. Pray for healthy perspective to heal.
6. Wisdom for Loved Ones: To know how to comfort, listen, be there or not be there- to know how to offer whatever is needed at the right time in the best way. Pray for them to be long-suffering, as healing from something like this can take a long time.
7. Comfort for Loved Ones: To trust God with the safety of their loved ones and themselves. For God’s perfect love to drive out all fear.
8. Wake Up Call: For all experiencing a wake-up call that- “That could have been me.” That they would be drawn to the only One who can direct them to true meaning and purpose in life.
9. The Community: Pray all those in the area will have the patience they need to endure media and other intrusions, and for discretion, respect, and space to be given to the community and all who suffered. Pray also for any economic impact this may have on the area.
10. PTSD and Other Stressors: Pray for all suffering from post traumatic stress that they would seek out and find all the help they need. Pray that they may find hope and truth and encouragement through Christ, His salvation, and His abiding presence.

Praying Scripture

Also pray Scripture over them. Start with these, and add to them:

Psalm 23:1-4

 

Add Your Own

Many of you reading this have been through trauma in your own life. As you think through how you pray for the victims, please add your prayers to the comments below.