Ask me how I know there's a God up in the heavens

I have been struck this week by the horrific stories of Vanessa George and her friends who have been sharing abusive photos on the internet and by mobile phone. They have pleaded guilty and (presumably) face life imprisonment, but leave behind a string of worried parents.

I cannot begin to imagine the horrors of child abuse: either to myself or - possibly worse - to my children. And when I try to think how I would react if it were my child ... I don't know. Anger, fear, confusion all spring to mind, but none of these words are adequate. The parents in Plymouth don't know one way or the other whether their child has been abused, whether photos of their darling son or daughter are currently being traded around the paedophiles' child pornography sites. They may never know.

The same day as the news broke I happened to hear this song playing on my random music list: Ask me by Amy Grant. It spoke to me of how God's love can pull it all back together again, even if he doesn't seem to be there when the actual abuse is taking place. It will not be everyone's reaction or experience, but I know this is a song of hope and, ultimately, triumph over adversity. I pray for this peace and mercy on all those children and their families.