“Open your ears, God, to my prayer…come close and whisper your answer. I really need you….

I call to God; God will help me. At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh deep sighs—he hears, he rescues. My life is well and whole, secure in the middle of danger…

Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders—he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out… (God) I trust in you.”

Selections from Psalm 55, The Message

A traumatic event such as the recent shooting rampage at Virginia Tech leaves us with many questions and causes us to experience a wide variety of emotions. Shock, anger, confusion, anxiety, fear and grief are just some of the feelings we, and people we love, may be experiencing. During a difficult time such as this, we need each other and we need the assurance that God is with us.

As we seek to handle our own responses and help those around us cope, we may benefit from learning more about how to talk to children and teens about violence, techniques for managing distress, and how to build resilience — the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity.

Individuals and families seeking information to help them cope with what has happened can find resources from churches, mental health organizations, schools, and the Internet. Many colleges and universities have posted excellent articles on the websites, and organizations such as the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists also have resources to assist people in dealing with traumatic events. Click here to access some of these resources.

Our faith communities are also places where we can explore our questions, share our deepest feelings and receive the assurance of God’s presence with us in times of tragedy.

May the words from Psalm 55, above, help you experience God’s love, compassion, and caring presence now and in the days to come.