God is Not Absent In Aftermath of Minneapolis Church Shooting
Like the Jews in Babylon, God has the last word over evil
Be encouraged that God is not absent in the aftermath of this week’s Catholic school shooting.
When Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians and its youth were dragged off, families ripped asunder, and the life they knew ended, they thought evil had won.
But Jeremiah encouraged them in exile with God’s words to build houses and settle down… plant gardens… seek the peace of the city where I’ve carried you… for I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
These words are no doubt difficult for someone in the midst of tragedy. When violence tries to be the last chapter, when it seems to have won, God steps in to let us know He has not abandoned us in our sorrow. God, not evil, had the final word for the Jews in Babylon, and so it is with us today.
–Dwight Widaman is editor of Metro Voice, which is commemorating 37 years of publishing in 2026.
