Tragedy has brought this country to its knees. All around the nation, people are gathering to pray. Politicians and priests together lead people to look to God. There are no cries of separation of church and state. No accusations of  rights being violated. And while I know that those thoughts are still out there, just under the surface, I am in wonder at what is taking place.

I know that there are many out there who are attending services of prayer and remembrance because it just seems like the right thing to do. I know there are many who are seeking comfort, but do not yet have confidence in the cross and Jesus' victory over death. I pray that even those who sit through services only by a sense of duty will be touched by the love of God.

I do not presume to know the hearts of others. But I know my own. I pray that God will strip away my pride in possessions, my pride in myself. Our only strength is in him. Without him, this existence would be futile. All that we hold dear in the world is like the dust and ashes left of the symbols of our love of money and power.

Thousands of people are presumed dead. I pray for comfort for their families  and friends - a true comfort only God can give. I pray that we Christians will unabashedly impart the message of God's hope and comfort in this time of trouble. And I thank God for our country. I pray that he remembers us, as so many are turning their eyes toward him. I pray for his blessing on our nation and for his hand of guidance. I thank him for our president and for his open acknowledgments of God's sovereignty and love, his expressions of faith. I pray that God would give our leaders wisdom in the coming weeks and months, and I pray that they would tune their hearts to seek his guidance and follow his will. 

And I pray that if you do not know Jesus - know that he died for your sins and is standing with open arms waiting to give you his comfort and peace - that you would turn to him now, and acknowledge your sinful nature, accept his shed blood as payment for it, and put your trust in him, to save your spirit from eternal death and hold you in the palm of his hand, where death, though in this world it be horrifying and terrible, can hold no lasting power over you.

Amen.