A heavy event happened today. A very conservative and Christian activist was assassinated. The true reason may never be known unless it is revealed, but God has put it on my heart to grieve this moment. He was a father of two, a husband to one, and only a month younger than me—with a birthday coming next month.
I hurt for the family, the wife and children, and the friends who surrounded him. It pains me to know they didn’t get to say goodbye. But then again—are we ever promised that chance? Life is truly but a vapor. Yet I rest assured in this: I believe I will meet Charlie in heaven one day.
Jesus Himself reminded us:
John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Calling the murder of a fellow human being “tribulation” may feel like an understatement. But as believers, we do not grieve as those who have no hope:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 – “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. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”
It’s natural to grieve with the thought that this was a senseless and meaningless act. That’s an okay feeling to have, and no two people grieve the same way. But let me say this—it was not meaningless.
There is a reason. One that may be far beyond our understanding. The suffering of this fallen world is wicked and often rips everything out of us when we least expect it.
If you’ve read the book of Job, you know his pain was immense—losing his children, possessions, and health. And yet, in the midst of his anguish, Job declared:
Job 23:10 – “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”
Job didn’t understand why, but he trusted that God did. That brought him hope and relief. Nothing in your life is hidden from God. There are no surprises to Him—no “oops” moments.
Scripture also describes God as a refiner of silver (Malachi 3:3). If you’ve never studied the refining process, I encourage you to do so—it’s powerful. The silversmith never leaves the metal in the fire too long. He stays close, watching carefully, until he can see his own reflection in the silver. That’s the picture of how God uses trials—He is purifying, strengthening, and shaping us into His image.
Even now, in this tragic moment—whether you knew him personally or are grieving from a distance—trust that God is drawing us closer, stripping away what is not essential, and making us pure.
Take heart. Have faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
You are a child of God. He has you—even when you can’t hear Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever—the only One we can truly count on.
The Quiet Scroll 
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