In His Image

I was reminded of this truth this morning by Ann Voskamp: "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble" (Nahum 1:7).

Soon after the news from the Boston marathon broke yesterday, John Piper posted something that has been going through my head repeatedly. He said that, as he watched the footage, he couldn't help but notice the profound empathy reflected in many of the people's immediate reaction to the bombs ... To run TOWARD the injured and not away to their own safety.

It it heartbreaking to hear of these frequent tragedies, and honestly, if we got reliable, global news all the time, the amount of daily tragedies would be overwhelming. My stomach tied up in knots this morning when I read that one of the victims was only eight years old ...

Someone's baby, just there to cheer on his daddy.

Martin lost his life yesterday. His dad and older brother only sustained minor injuries physically, but they are left with an incredible loss, and not only in Martin's death. Martin's sister has had her leg amputated, and his mother has been seriously affected with a brain injury.

In these times, I am grateful for the reminder that Love conquers all, and we who are made in His image have the capacity to love through the hate, to overcome, to persevere. We, too, can run the race of endurance, and we are assured victory, with no surprise endings.

Events like yesterday's are designed with the intent to instill anger, fear, and hate. Let us be angry, yes, angry at the injustice of a broken world that allows people to die senselessly every day, whether from the hands of an insane bomber or from basic dehydration, where mothers beg for a scrap of food for their babies, where there is no hope for medical care for some, where parents intentionally mutilate their children so they look more pathetic on street corners...

But let us not fear or hate, because fear and hate bind us. They hold us back from moving forward, from healing, from fighting the battle courageously.

We are created in His image, each and every one of us. I loved this reminder from Dove today that there is beauty where we don't see it, that each of us is lovely, especially to Him. We mourn with Boston today, but we will not be defeated by hate.

Love is greater.

Love conquers all.

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

Psalm 31:24