This past week has felt heavy. The loss of Charlie Kirk was heartbreaking. For his family and friends. For the family of God. For our country.

Sometimes sorrow seems to hang in the air, not because of one single event, but because of many moments of grief that remind us how fragile life truly is.

Since 2001, September has carried with it the memory of 9/11. Even after all these years, the images and emotions remain close to the surface. We remember where we were, what we felt, and the way our world seemed to tilt on its axis that day. It is right to pause, to honor the lives lost, the families forever changed, and the bravery of those who stepped into danger to help others. And now, we mourn the loss of Charlie Kirk.

But sadness isn’t only tied to history—it touches our present too. Whether it’s the loss of someone we admired, heartbreak in our communities, or personal struggles we carry quietly, grief has a way of reminding us how deeply we long for a world made whole again.

As believers, we don’t grieve without hope. Scripture tells us: “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4, KJV). The Lord draws close to the brokenhearted, and in our tears He whispers that He is still God, still faithful, still holding us when we can’t seem to stand.

So as we walked through this past week of sadness, let us remember together. Let us lift up those who are hurting, speak life and kindness into the lives around us, and most of all, cling to the hope of Christ. Because even in our sorrow, His light is never extinguished.