It’s link-up time!

If you’re new to the Five Minute Friday scene, a special welcome to you! We hang out here every week, free writing in five minutes flat on a single word prompt, then we visit each other’s blogs to make friends and encourage one another.

Sound like fun? Learn more here.

Also, quick PSA: Thank you SO MUCH to all who applied to serve on my book launch team! You guys are amazing! I was so overwhelmed with the response and so wish I had space to take every single one of you!

If you applied to be on the team, I did send out response emails to all applicants, so be sure to check your inbox!

And finally, I’m looking to put together a group of at least six people who still want to register for the Festival of Faith & Writing in Grand Rapids, Michigan in April.

My book is releasing at this conference, my publisher is hosting a reception for the book launch, I’ll be leading a Festival Circle discussion, and I’d love to see YOU there!

If you want to get in on the group discount deal, fill out this form:

 

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This week’s Five Minute Friday prompt is: WHY

 

why

 

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GO.

We kneel in the wake of yet another school shooting. We’re but six weeks into the new year, and the statistics are staggering. 17 more people dead this week.

Beyond the obvious shock and dismay and sick-to-my-stomach feeling, it struck me that the initial collective question after Who? is always, Why?

Why did they do it? What was their motive? What could possibly have possessed someone to commit such a gross atrocity?

And then comes the next level of why:

Why, Lord? How could You have let this happen? What were You thinking? Just WHY?!

The line of questioning made me wonder if we have examples in Scripture of others who felt the same way.

A few psalms came to mind, mostly those asking the question, How long, O Lord? How long will You be silent?

Then I happened upon the book of Habakkuk, and it almost seemed as if he had written it for today, for this very situation:

“How long, Lord, must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, ‘Violence!’
but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?
Destruction and violence are before me;
there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.”

The Lord’s Answer

“Look at the nations and watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told.”

(Habakkuk 1:2-5)

“Then the Lord replied:
‘Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come
and will not delay.” 

(Habakkuk 2:2-3)

 

Though we may be asking, “How long, O Lord?” He tells us to wait. It will certainly come.

Lament, yes. Mourn, yes. And keep waiting in hopeful expectation.

Come, Lord Jesus. Come. 

 

STOP.

 

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