Today, as Oklahoma starts the process of recovering from the devastating tornadoes that ripped through the region, we reflect on those lives that were lost and pray that God’s comfort and compassion will permeate through the darkness.

In 1995, Billy Graham was invited to speak to a broken community at the Oklahoma City bombing memorial service. As heartache and grief filled those affected, the community, the nation and the world came together and surrounded Oklahoma in prayer and hope.

The strength and unity of Oklahomans will once again prevail. We hope that you will join us in continuing to lift up all those affected by the tornadoes in the Midwest in prayer.

“The wounds from this tragedy are deep, but the courage and faith and determination of the people of Oklahoma City are even deeper.

The Bible says, in Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

Times like this will do one of two things.  They will either make us hard and bitter and angry at God, or they will make us tender and open, and help us to reach out in trust and faith. Pray that you will not let bitterness and poison creep into your soul, but that you will turn in faith and trust in God even if we cannot understand.  It is better to face something like this with God than without Him.

Some of you today are going through heartache and grief so intense that you wonder if it can ever go away. I want to tell you that God cares, and the Bibles says that He is “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted” (Matthew 5:4). I pray that every one of you will experience God’s comfort during these days as you turn to Him, for God loves you, and He shares in your suffering.

Difficult as it may be for us to see right now, this event gives us a message of hope for the present, and a hope for the future.

This event also reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life.  It reminds us that we never know when we are going to be taken. That is why we each need to face our own spiritual need and commit ourselves to God and His will.

My prayer for your today is that you will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around you, and will know in your heart that He will never forsake you as you trust Him.”