Wednesday, September 23, 2026From the news

Comfort Amid the Shadows of Easter

As justice dawns for the victims of Sri Lanka's Easter bombings, Scripture reminds us of God's tender comfort for the grieving and His sovereign promise of ultimate justice.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord.

Romans 12:19 (NIV)

Dear friend, as you sip your morning coffee and scroll through the headlines, you may have paused at the news from Sri Lanka. A court has convicted 15 individuals linked to the horrific 2019 Easter Sunday bombings—attacks inspired by the Islamic State that tore through churches and hotels, claiming over 250 lives, including 42 foreigners. It was a day meant for resurrection joy, turned into unimaginable sorrow. Families shattered, communities scarred, and a nation left reeling from one of its deadliest assaults. Seven years later, this verdict brings a measure of earthly justice, a step toward accountability for the innocent blood spilled. Yet, we know that no courtroom can fully mend broken hearts or erase the echoes of that Easter morning.

In moments like these, our souls ache not just for Sri Lanka, but for every corner of our weary world where violence strikes without warning. The pain is real—the grief of mothers who buried their children mid-worship, the emptiness of hotel lobbies stained by loss, the lingering fear in pews that should hold only praise. We name it plainly, because our Savior did: He wept at Lazarus's tomb, He mourned Jerusalem's rebellion. But take heart, beloved; the God who sees every tear draws near in our shared sorrow.

Listen to the tender words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4: 'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.' Paul wrote this from chains, amid shipwrecks and stonings, yet he lifts our eyes to the Father of compassion. This same God comforted the disciples after Calvary's horror, turning their Easter despair into dawn's greatest hope. For the families in Sri Lanka, as convictions are read, He offers this comfort today—not as a distant echo, but as a present embrace. He whispers to the brokenhearted, as Psalm 34:18 assures: 'The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.' Closeness in crushing times; salvation for spirits ground low. What a gentle promise for those still navigating grief's long shadow.

And what of justice? The court's gavel falls, holding perpetrators accountable, yet we sense its limits. Human systems falter; vengeance unchecked breeds more cycles of pain. Here, Scripture guides us wisely: Romans 12:19 urges, 'Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.' In Sri Lanka's story, we see a glimpse of ordered retribution, but the full weight belongs to our righteous Judge. He who raised Jesus from the Easter tomb will one day right every wrong. This frees us from bitterness, inviting us instead to trust His perfect timing. Let us remember those victims not in rage, but in prayer, extending the comfort we've received.

Now, bring this home to your day, dear one. Perhaps your week holds no bombings, but hidden hurts—a diagnosis unmet, a relationship fractured, anxieties pressing like unseen attackers. Or maybe global news stirs your own fears for loved ones in unstable places. Let these passages sink deep: God's comfort isn't reserved for grand tragedies; it's for your quiet troubles too. This morning, pause and receive it. Picture the Father of compassion sitting beside you, as close as breath. Let His nearness save your crushed spirit. And as you step into your routine—work calls, family needs, evening unwind—carry His comfort outward. Comfort a coworker with a listening ear, pray for Sri Lanka's healing, choose forgiveness over grudge. In Jesus, the ultimate Easter Victor, we live not as victims of shadows, but as bearers of resurrection light.

This justice in Sri Lanka reminds us: dawn follows even the darkest night. God's mercy holds the grieving, His wrath secures the reckoning, His grace empowers our witness. Rest in that today, my friend. Your troubles are seen, your heart held, your hope eternal.