January 9, 2026

I have to admit, these last few weeks have been heavy. It’s not the way I hoped to start 2026, but what year ever starts the way we hope? Many of us have watched the news and felt our stomachs drop. Stories of violence, fear, uncertainty. I saw a local story of an innocent young 11-year-old girl who was shot and killed while playing at a playground. Senseless violence leads to a life cut short. And still, there have been no arrests. My mind keeps asking, “where is the justice?” I have an 11-year-old son. I can’t imagine that family’s grief and hopelessness. This hits close to home.

The recent headlines coming out of Minneapolis. Families are afraid of being torn apart. Communities on edge. And depending on your story, your background, or your experiences, these events may land very differently for you.

Some of you feel angry. Some feel afraid. Some feel numb. Some feel torn between competing voices, unsure what to think, what to say, or even how to pray. And if that’s you, I just want to say this first: you’re not wrong for feeling that way.

In moments like this, there’s pressure to pick a side, post a take, or reduce complex human suffering into simple answers. But as followers of Jesus, I want to challenge you to start somewhere deeper.

We start by remembering that every person is made in the image of God. Every life lost matters. Every family living in fear matters. Every heart carrying grief or anxiety matters to God.

Scripture tells us that “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18. That means God is not distant from these moments. He is near. He is near to the grieving, to the afraid, to the confused, and even to those who don’t know what to feel anymore.

Hope, for Christians, is not pretending things are fine. Hope is not denial. Hope is the quiet, stubborn belief that darkness does not get the final word. Hope is choosing compassion when fear is loud. Hope is praying when words are hard to find. Hope is refusing to let our hearts grow cold.

So, here’s what I want to invite you into this week:

1.        Pray. For victims, for families, for communities, for leaders, for wisdom, for peace. Paul talks about this in his letter to the Thessalonian church. A church dealing with discouragement, discord, and disillusion. And Paul said, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

2.        Be present. With your neighbors, coworkers, classmates, and friends. Encourage them through this. Be the light in the darkness of these moments.

3.        Guard your heart. Don’t let outrage or fear shape you more than love does.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.” Not the loudest voices. Not the quickest answers. The peacemakers.

Church, we don’t have to agree on everything to walk together. But we can choose to be people of hope in a hurting world.

You are not alone. God is near. And light still shines in the darkness.

Grace and peace to you.

Chris Emmons

Ross Campus Pastor

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