Nicole D. Hayes, Founder, Voices Against the Grain

To whomever this applies, I’m getting in your behind today. God is God all by himself and doesn’t need me to defend Him. Though in response to this morning’s New York Daily News front page/full page headline “God Isn’t Fixing This,” and those who support it concerning Wednesday’s horrific shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., in which 17 lives were taken and 14 victims injured: What part do you want God to fix?

Do you want Him to fix those who murder with guns or those who murder daily with their words and thoughts? Many of you think and speak unkindly and unlovingly toward others because of the darkness rooted in your heart. Yet, because you don’t physically shoot people, that is considered ok. God fixes hearts willing to turn to Him who realize they need help. God doesn’t fix gun laws—He fixes people. God seeks to advance Laws of the Spirit so you may truly live freely and abundantly in Him, set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). Yet you’ve chosen to live apart from Him, carelessly and irreverently.

We want the offenders to surrender their weapons. But are you likewise willing to surrender your tongue, your words, and your actions that are used like weapons to cause offense? To the perpetrators of violence we say, “Fix it Jesus!” But shouldn’t we ask Jesus to fix us?

We curse the driver who doesn’t yield to us on the road, yet, we won’t yield our hearts or ways to God’s ways because we want to do things our way. Thinking of the rude driver, we shout in our cars, “Fix it Jesus!” with no regard of how we responded to the situation. Shouldn’t He fix you too?

You curse and misuse the Name of Jesus in your conversations, ignorant of the uncomparable power, love, blessings, restoration, healing, salvation, and joy in His Name. Yet, you want Him to “fix it” and not fix you.

Bottom line: The evil we’re witnessing in our world is horrific. We want the violence to cease and be replaced with peace. But this doesn’t come by more gun control or harsher sentences or more police brutality. It starts with allowing the peace of Jesus Christ to reign in our hearts. Allowing the peace of Christ to flow in your words and in your thoughts. You are in no position to dictate to God what He should do to bring about the healing in hearts that are corrupted. You can’t even determine your next heartbeat—but He can. Often it seems the darkest and tragic times bring the hardened and stubborn to their knees in full surrender to Him. God will not force Himself on us. He will not force us to love Him. For what kind of love is forced love? We must choose to love Him. Until then, we have unsurrendered hearts and the chaos ensues.

“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 2:21)

At Voices Against the Grain, we continue to lift in prayer those affected by violence everywhere. We pray for healing in hearts. We believe that hearts yielded to Christ Jesus can help transform situations.

-Nicole

Nicole D. Hayes is the founder of Voices Against the Grain, a bold teaching ministry launched in May 2013. Nicole’s purpose in creating Voices Against the Grain is to be light in darkness, to boldly instruct truth amid confusion so as to bring clarity and restoration.

Learn more about Nicole D. Hayes here.