Prayer is being preyed upon in today’s culture.
The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, the Covenant School tragedy in 2023, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the violent texts by Virginia Attorney General candidate Jay Jones, and the attack at the LDS Church in Grand Blanc, Michigan, are not isolated events. They are alarming signs of a growing and deliberate targeting of religious schools, churches, and voices of faith.
Today’s media often blurs the truth, hoping people won’t connect the dots, but the reality is becoming undeniable. Slowly, the culture of the United States is shifting away from and even against Christian values, as increasingly extreme ideologies foster division, justify hostility, and dehumanize those who disagree with them by adhering to the faith that founded our nation.
People aren’t even ashamed of their violent words or deeds. They are affirming it and calling for more. The sign shown below, openly displayed in a busy restaurant district, is a clear indication of how normalized this hostility has become.
High-profile political figures, including Virginia gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger, are adding fuel to this dangerous climate. While on the campaign trail, she encouraged people to “let your rage fuel you.” Merriam-Webster defines rage as “violent and uncontrolled anger.” That is what we are seeing: violent and uncontrolled anger towards those who disagree with the radical left. They are glamorizing assassinations, justifying the violence, and calling for more. The party that claims to be “for the people” wants some people dead.
Being constantly surrounded by news of attacks and violence against Christians and conservatives is heartbreaking and unsettling. In moments of tragedy, we turn to prayer—our greatest source of hope. Yet even this sacred act is mocked and disrespected so as to inflict more pain on us. Bullet casings used against praying children are inscribed with, “Where is your God?” and we are told constantly that prayer is powerless.
I was on a run the other day and stopped at a busy intersection. I noticed some red duct tape on the lamp post to my right. I normally ignore stickers and flyers because they are often vulgar or inappropriate. But this time, my eyes drifted to the tape. My heart sank into my stomach. I blinked and tried to refocus, making sure I was reading the black words correctly. I was stuck, in shock, and a sense of fear and uneasiness crept in on me.
The words written on the tape read,
I was certain I misread it. There is no way this was prompting people to prey on those who pray.
But that was exactly it. The words were clear and deadly. This is the result of letting rage fuel you.
I sent the above photo to a group chat of friends who pray for our city and ripped the tape off the lamp post. And I prayed. Because prayer is more powerful than words, more powerful than weapons, and more powerful than rage.
As I reflect on that moment at the crosswalk, I realize my sense of compassion for the person who wrote it. They don’t know the everlasting and unconditional love of God. They don’t understand that Jesus paid it all, that He took all our sin to the cross so that we could live in communion with God. I wish they knew that all they have to do is go to the Lord.
Evil in this world is not going away. It may even get stronger, but it will never be stronger than our trust in God. We pray to the King of Kings who has already won the fight.
I encourage you to remember the power that walks with you. Deuteronomy 31:6 is an encouragement to all believers, as it reads, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Suffering will come, and tragedy that we do not understand will hit close to home, but the Lord is above it all, and we must go to Him for comfort, strength, and hope.
