I made two grown men cry this week.

I never planned on saying anything publicly about Charlie Kirk’s death…but then God.

He put something on my heart to say, and then he was so kind as to confirm that it wasn’t just my own message, but something more powerful, when I prayed it in a group setting and two grown men cried.

It’s not fancy rhetoric or theology. It’s a simple change of perspective.

Charlie Kirk…

I’ll start by saying that I’d never heard of Charlie Kirk until after he died.

My fiancé followed him, so Jack was the one to tell me what happened last Wednesday. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to pray for Charlie’s family, his murderers, and the church’s response with other groups of believers.

It’s moving to hear the hearts of so many believers. I heard so much fear and sadness and hope.

What really got me was reading three posts on Saturday from friends on Instagram. Many of the posts were by young people who are depressed over the state of the world.

It riled me up–even tragedies shouldn’t have the power to make us afraid of living.

Even tragedies shouldn’t have the power to steal the joy that we have. Even tragedies can’t block out the light.

Friends, I SEE THE LIGHT.

Charlie’s death hasn’t snuffed out the light. Jesus still died on the cross.

We still have a reason for hope and joy. We can still trust that God brings all things together for the good of those who love and serve him!

God brings all things together for the good…

That’s not a kitchy phrase that we say without really believing.

I’ll scream it if I have to: GOD IS GOOD.

God is good. <3

God is so so so good. He can bring this for good and he already has. People who’ve walked away from church are considering walking back because Charlie Kurk gave his life for Jesus.

That’s light.

Across centuries, martyrs have spread Jesus’s light by their willingness to proclaim the gospel of Christ with boldness.

Jesus talked about how to respond to persecution in Luke 6:22-23:

“Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you and insult you
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.

²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.

We are blessed if we experience persecution.

Learning about the light

Last Wednesday afternoon, maybe at the exact same time that Charlie died, I was writing about light and darkness.

I wrote that it’s less about fighting the darkness and more about ushering in the light.

I still believe those words.

If you give God your focus (worshipping, praising, praying), instead of giving the darkness your focus (ruminating over Charlie’s death or other tragedies), you will grow closer to Jesus.

Will you choose to walk in light?

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Note: I’m writing this article, like I write all of my articles, for young adult Christian girls.