Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, last week’s assassination of Charlie Kirk was a collective gut punch to our country. In recent months we’ve seen other politically-motivated killings such as the Minnesota legislator and her husband, along with other violent acts.
For various reasons, Charlie’s death did seem to resonate more deeply across our nation. I’ll admit, I didn’t even know who Charlie Kirk was until that fateful day. But in the handful of videos I’ve since watched, I saw a man bold in his faith, grounded in a Christian worldview, and willing to engage openly on some of life’s most difficult topics.
Thousands, maybe millions, of words have already been spoken or written about the events surrounding his death. I will add just a few hundred to the national discourse.
But I come from a unique perspective. I want to reflect on what Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, may be experiencing. Even if I don’t get that exactly right, because we can never fully know what she’s enduring, I do believe, as a widow of eight years myself, that I can draw some conclusions which may shed light on how God might work through this tragedy.
If you haven’t yet seen her first public words after her husband’s death, you can watch that here.
Ever since my own husband’s death, I’ve chosen John 16:33 as my life verse.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.
That verse contains two seemingly opposing promises from God.
- Sorrows: We will endure heartache in this life. “Trouble” will take on countless forms. We may see it coming; we may be blindsided by it. It might be a short season of suffering. It might be heartache we take to our grave. But make no mistake, no one is immune from this promise.
Transition: Despite that “discouraging” promise, God does not leave us there. His beautiful transition from the sorrow we’re promised is to “take heart.” The Greek word is tharseite which means to “be of good courage,” “be brave,” or “be confident.” What exactly can we be confident in?
- Hope: Jesus’ death and resurrection are where our hope lies, if you have trusted in his sacrifice on your behalf. No matter what this world throws at us, if we are in Christ, we know it ends well. That doesn’t mean we don’t suffer through those promised trials, but it does mean that we know how the story ends. We, through Jesus’ sacrifice, are victors.
So, let’s circle back to Erika Kirk. From here, I’m making assumptions, but even if I don’t capture every detail, I believe there are some lessons we can all draw from her circumstances.
The death of her husband is likely the hardest thing she will ever endure. She’s not only dealing with the loss of her soul mate, husband, ministry partner, and greatest cheer leader, she is also walking her young son and daughter through the lifelong absence of their father, all he meant to them, and all they will miss.
She will experience the familiar aspects of grief that many of us encounter, but she will be doing it on a massive public stage. She will need a strong community of supporters around her to protect her from critics and those who may judge how she’s handling this tragedy.
Like so many who lose a spouse, much of her identity was tied up in being Charlie’s wife and fellow warrior in ministry. That role has been ripped away. In its place, I believe, is a new role which she already appears to be embracing – that of a roaring lion that has just been awakened. This loss will emboldened her, and I expect she already senses God’s call to carry the torch forward.
At the same time, I trust she will remain grounded in her truest identity – who she is in Christ. She is a daughter of the King and now a battle-tested warrior for his Kingdom.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will see God do great things through this wounded child. Yes, wounded, but not defeated. I trust that he will use her devastating loss to bring about a greater good, one that she—and all of us—cannot yet imagine in these early days.
That is what God guarantees to all of us, even in the midst of our promised troubles. As it says in Romans 8:37:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us.
So, let’s uphold this young woman and her family in our prayers. Let’s defend her when others speak hurtful words. Let’s pray for strong, godly men and women to surround her with love and compassion as she walks this long, grief-filled journey.
Pray that she sees God’s hand ever more clearly on her life and his mission for her. May we move beyond cliché when we speak of “purpose through her pain” and instead bear witness to the powerful ways God uses broken vessels.
I am cheering her on and eagerly watching for an even greater impact. I close with a few more of my favorite verses which strengthen the promise of Romans 8:37.
As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers,
nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:36-39