What are they thinking?

What can I say? It was a rough weekend. Do you have many weekends like that? By Thursday you think "I've got more going on in my life, and there is more ministry that needs to be happening than one person can handle." And then it just keeps coming....and we are still in the middle of more messes and ministry than it appears there is time for this week.

It started Thursday when we heard about one of the students at my daughter's high school who had committed suicide. The students were asking "why?" and the parents were asking "what was he thinking?" There was a similar tragedy almost one year ago in a neighboring town. My thoughts went immediately to that family and community. How those same questions had gone unanswered for a year....and probably would never be answered.

As the weekend continued we heard about students grieving and those making poor choices in the midst of their grief. The question once again came up, "what were they thinking?" Why do students act irrationally? Why do they take risks? Why do they not see the consequences until it is too late?

I don't know what the young guy was thinking that ended his life. I don't know what his parents and family are thinking these days as they sift through his things. I can only imagine the sadness they feel and the questions they are asking.

I don't know what the other students who made mistakes and bad choices over the weekend are thinking. I don't know what the parents or others are thinking as they decide how to handle their transgressions.

I really don't know what any of them are thinking. And half the time, I'm not sure what I think either. My mind continues to swirl with questions.

For the boy who took his life...what can friends and families do so that no other students think about suicide as an option? Were there any warning signs? And if there were, how did we miss them?

For the kids who made poor choices, that now will be on their permanent records, how could we have loved you more or influenced your choices?

As I've looked into the eyes of students this weekend and the start of this new week, I've continued to ask, "What are they thinking?"

However, I also recognize that there is one who is the father of lies. He is deceptive and intrudes into the lives of people all around us. One of his favorite deceptions is to undermine the confidence and trust we have in God and His unconditional love.

Although I don't know what those around me are thinking, I do know that there is a heavenly Father who doesn't want His children to limp through life. He wants all people to know of His love, forgiveness, and the redemption that is offered when we receive Him and all the fullness that comes with knowing Him.

I told my daughter yesterday morning that I didn't know what the day would hold, but I would be praying for her. I didn't know what she was thinking as she headed off to another day that could get messy. But as she left I began to pray Ephesians 3:16-19...

I pray that He may grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God's love, and to know the Messiah's love that surpasses knowledge, so you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

I'm not sure what you may be going through today in your life or ministry. I don't know all the situations you are facing as you minister to girls. But I'm pretty sure you find yourself in circumstances when you ask, "what are they thinking?" as you reach out to those around you.

So, I pray Ephesians 3:16-19 over you. That you will be strengthened with God's power. That Jesus will be dwelling fully in your heart today. And that more than anything, you will be an example and reflection of His unconditional love to those around you.