Jim Daly Christian Blog and Commentary

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Evil in Connecticut

  • Jim Daly Jim Daly is president and chief executive officer of Focus on the Family, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families thrive.
  • Updated Dec 18, 2012

Their stories will be told in the coming days, snapshots of innocence lost and lives cut short by the unspeakable and incomprehensible evil at the hands of another human being. We’re saddened and shocked, as well we should be. There is no parent in America who isn’t knocked over by the tragic news of the horrific elementary school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  

We want to cry.

We want to scream.

We want to hug our children tighter than we ever have before.

And never let go.

For the children of this sleepy suburban town, the day likely started out just as all the others. They ate their breakfast, dressed for school and were probably thinking about what little children think about – their friends, Christmas and the upcoming vacation. When they walked from the car or bus to the classroom they did so with a carefree spring in their step.


It’s become vogue in some circles to consider that morality is relative, that good and bad are subjective. But when a human being opens fire in a classroom and murders every child inside, we’re once again confronted with the fact that we’re living in a broken and fallen world.

Indeed, this country has a problem. This world has a problem. It’s called evil and it’s running loose like a roaring lion devouring the most innocent in our midst.

Our hearts are breaking tonight. Our spirits are downcast, and we are hungry for hope.

What can we do?

We must turn to the One True Hope in a hurting world. This One True Hope came into the world in the form of an innocent baby, an infant only a few years younger than many of those killed today.

We pray for comfort and peace for the families of those lost. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,” wrote the psalmist, “and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).

We pray for the children who survived but are now scarred and who will probably never see a classroom again without also seeing evil.

Please join me in prayer tonight. Hold these families close to your heart. Pray with your family. If you have children and you’re a bit unsure how to explain this type of evil to them, I would encourage you to click here for some helpful advice from the fully licensed counselors that are on Focus’ staff.

God bless you all.

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