Love in the Hard Places

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20  NIV

Two weeks before the nation was shaken by the news of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, my own world was shaken by the loss of my sister, Julie, to cancer. Grief came close—too close. It’s been a heart-wrenching time for our family and everyone close to Julie.

Then, almost before I could take a breath, I watched as the Kirk family, and indeed our whole country, was struck by a sudden and violent loss. Though their story was not mine, I felt their grief echoing my pain. It reminded me that whether through illness or violence, death does not discriminate. Loss is a thread that connects us all.

As Christians, we are not spared these valleys. As I said in my last blog,  https://mvarga.com/life-inspiration/when-we-lose-a-loved-one/ Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of His friend, Lazarus .Yet His tears were not the end of the story. He went on to declare,

 I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die

 John 11:25   (NIV)

That promise steadies me when the waves of sorrow sneak up on me. My sister’s body failed, but her soul is alive in Christ. The same hope speaks into every public tragedy: Death is not the final word.

Public tragedies, too, can shake us awake—to see that hate cannot heal, but love can. Over 65,000 students gathered at the same college where Charlie was shot within weeks of the assassination. They were there to stand up against violence and honor his memory.

Meanwhile, we continue to live here in a broken world. God calls us to something hard: To let love rise even in the midst of loss; to choose forgiveness over bitterness; peace over anger; and unity over division.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

 Psalm 34:18   (NIV)

If He draws near to us in our brokenness, then perhaps our calling is to draw near to others in theirs. That’s what we witnessed at Charlie Kirk’s memorial service.  Over 100,000  gathered in person for his memorial…with over a million viewing by cable or internet streaming. At many times, I felt like I was witnessing a Christian revival.

Revival often begins in hard places. It begins when hearts turn back to God in desperation, when people realize how much they need His mercy. My prayer is that both in my private grief and in our shared national grief, God would use even these losses to draw us closer to Himself.

Loss changes us. It rearranges our priorities. It reminds us that every moment is precious, and every relationship is worth mending.

Losing my sister has awakened a deeper desire in me to love well, forgive quickly, and live for eternity. I’m so looking forward to seeing Julie again in heaven someday!

To be completely honest, I knew very little about Charlie Kirk prior to his assassination. I knew he was a staunch conservative who had a huge impact on our GenZ population. Now I’ve read all about him…the good, the bad, and the ugly.

In one of the last interviews he gave, the commentator asked Charlie what he wanted most to be remembered for. He replied that he wanted to be remembered for  “courage in my faith.”

My belief is that Charlie Kirk is a Christian martyr who died proclaiming and defending a life lived in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. I pray that his life AND death will lead many to Christ.

Dear Lord,
Teach us to love in the hard places. When we face loss, let us cling to Your promises. When the world is shaken, let us be an instrument of peace. Use even what was meant for harm to bring about good, and let revival begin in all of us.

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