Please Pray For This Family

My heart is heavy as I sit down to write this post.

On Tuesday, our family got word that a senseless act of violence was taken out on a dear friend’s 28 year old daughter. Amanda and her husband, lived near Indianapolis in a quiet subdivision. They have a 1 year old son and recently announced that they were expecting another baby. Amanda’s husband, Davey, is a pastor at a local church. Our family is connected to Amanda through her parents who used to live in our community while her dad was our pastor for several years.

Davey came home on Tuesday morning to find his lovely bride unconscious. She had been shot twice, once in the head, while their son was left unharmed in the house. It appears like this was a home invasion that went horribly wrong. Amanda was in a coma, in critical condition, fighting for her life at an Indianapolis hospital until Wednesday when both Amanda and her unborn baby were welcomed home by our Lord and Savior.

I’d like to ask you to please stop whatever you’re doing right now and take a moment to lift this family up in your prayers.

Our family knows, firsthand the amazing power of prayer. It makes a difference. It gives comfort and peace. Prayer gives strength.

Trying to heal from this type of even is not humanly possible. That’s why it’s imperative that we call out to God for help. With Him, all things are possible.

I remember some days, while David was in the Burn Unit, that I knew that other people were praying for our family, simply because I couldn’t have done what needed to be done on a daily basis in my own strength- God was doing the battle for me. I know that the families impacted by this tragedy will need our prayers to lift them up and guide them in the coming days, weeks and months.

It’s my prayer that God would be with Amanda’s husband, Davey as he processes everything. I ask for God’s loving and gracious arms to be wrapped around each family member as they seek comfort, healing and peace. Help them find rest in the Lord. I pray that bitterness and anger won’t take hold of their hearts as they try to make sense of this difficult situation. I pray that good will somehow come from this and that their family will be able to continue to show the love of Christ to others.

While our hearts ache as we try to make sense of this, we must remember that God is in this. He will comfort those that are left behind and as believers, we do not mourn as if there is no hope- there is hope in our salvation and in Amanda’s reunion with Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 reminds us that if we put our trust and faith in Jesus, that we will have eternal life. Amanda was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Her and her husband, along with her family, professed a strong Christian faith and worked effortlessly at serving and teaching others. Because Amanda was a believer, we can rest assured that she is in the loving arms of Jesus today.

1 Thessalonians 4:13   But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

We’re praying for her Mom and Dad, her husband and young son and for her extended family and friends as they mourn her loss and that of her unborn baby.

God can do big things. There are no surprises to God. He was with Amanda on Tuesday morning and continues to be with her right now. He will also be with her husband and family and with all of us as we grieve and heal from this tragic event.

Please continue to lift this family up in prayer.