By Racheal Gitonga:
As South Sudan celebrated its 14th independence anniversary, the city of Juba should have been filled with quiet reflection and cautious hope. Instead, sorrow settled across the land as news spread of the tragic killing of a security officer in Maridi County. The air, already thick with the weight of a nation longing for peace, grew heavier with grief, confusion, and fear. Yet even in the darkest moments, God’s Word calls us to lift our eyes and remember that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
This officer was more than a uniformed man. He was a father, a son, and a symbol of resilience in a fragile land. His life, now cut short, leaves behind unanswered questions and wounds that words cannot reach. Many cry out, asking, “Why must
violence persist? When will peace be more than a promise?” In these moments, we cling to the
reminder that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.
In Maridi, a young widow knelt beside a simple wooden cross marking where her husband fell. Through her tears, she whispered not a prayer for revenge, but a cry for peace. Around her, children sang in quiet lament, their voices rising like incense through the pain. It was a haunting image—grief etched into young faces—yet they sang, for even in the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord is present.
This tragedy reminds us that peace is still a fragile hope. But it also reminds us that peace begins with each of us—in every act of forgiveness, in every refusal to retaliate, in every gesture of compassion. Our Lord Jesus endured betrayal, injustice, and death, yet from His pain came resurrection and the promise of peace. We believe that even now, God can bring beauty from ashes, joy from mourning, and praise from despair, just as Isaiah 61:3 declares.
Let us rise—not without scars, but with hope. For even in our darkest night, God’s light still shines, guiding us toward healing. May we be peacemakers in a land that longs for peace, for blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Prayer
Father, we lift our nation before You. Let Your peace flood every heart, quiet every cry for vengeance, and awaken a spirit of unity. Heal our wounds, guide our leaders, and raise up peacemakers. Let Your light shine through this darkness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
