## “God is our refuge…” — Erika Kirk’s words before tragedy

On **September 10, 2025**, Charlie Kirk—conservative activist, founder of Turning Point USA—was speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, during a Q\&A session tied to his “American Comeback Tour.” Roughly twenty minutes into his speech, he was shot in the neck by a single bullet; he was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.

Hours before this shooting, Charlie’s wife **Erika Kirk** shared a verse from the Bible on her X account: *Psalm 46:1*, which reads:

> *“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”*

Her post has taken on a haunting resonance given the events that followed. It was posted in the afternoon—just before the event at which Charlie would later be gravely wounded.

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## Background on Erika Kirk & their family

* Erika Frantzve Kirk is a faith-focused figure in her own right: she is involved in ministry, has a podcast, clothing line, nonprofit activities, and is studying for advanced work in biblical studies.

* The Kirks were married in May 2021, and they have two young children—a daughter born August 2022, and a son born May 2024.

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## Why the timing feels striking

While there is no public evidence that Erika’s verse was a premonition in any supernatural sense, the closeness in timing between her sharing *Psalm 46:1* and the violent event has led many to view her words as especially poignant, even prophetic. The verse speaks of refuge and strength, words that in ordinary times offer comfort—but in hindsight they seem to foreshadow a moment of crisis. Media outlets have repeatedly described those words as “haunting.” ([Newsner English][3])

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## What is known / still unknown

* It’s not known whether Erika attended the Utah Valley University event or was present at the time of the shooting.

* The identity of the shooter, motive, and many details about how and why the attack occurred are still under investigation.

* No credible indication has yet emerged that the verse was intended as a warning; more likely, it reflects her faith and her ways of coping with uncertainty.

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## Reflections: faith, uncertainty, and meaning in tragedy

This kind of event often raises larger questions:

* How people draw strength or protection from faith or spiritual beliefs when facing danger or when they feel vulnerable.

* How words, especially those shared in public, can take on new power or meaning after a tragedy—sometimes offering comfort, sometimes raising uncomfortable “what‐ifs.”

* The role that public figures have: both Charlie and Erika lived much of their public life under scrutiny, which means their messages are amplified, and coincidences (like this one) get more attention.