Like many of you, I sat in complete horror watching CNN’s reporting on the earthquake that hit Oklahoma City yesterday afternoon. So many children lost. Hundreds of miles away my heart couldn’t begin to process the images I was seeing. I can’t imagine how the folks who are living there felt. In the wake of such trauma, how do we cope? Where do we turn? How do we cling to what we believe to be true about God’s goodness and at the same time embrace the suffering of so many?

As I wrestled with these questions this morning, I spent some time meditating on Romans 8:37-39 which reads, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. From I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.” The Apostle Paul who wrote these words had seen and experienced his fair share of trauma. He was put into prison, whipped, beat, experienced the horror of an earthquake and also lived through a ship wreck. He finally lost his life as a maryter. Yet, Paul had  unwavering faith in the love of God. Remarkable, huh?

I find these verses to be encouraging as I process all the devastation and loss of life. Death cannot separate us from the love of Christ. For those who are grieving this morning, our tears and prayers are with you. We cannot imagine the pain you are experiencing and we can only cling to the hope that somehow in spite of the horror you will be enveloped in the love of God.

Will you join me in prayer for those who are suffering in Oklahoma City? Lord Jesus, we cannot imagine the pain of those living in Oklahoma City. God we confess we feel paralyzed as we watch the scenes unfold on the news. Lord, would you envelope those who are grieving with your presence? Would you comfort them as they weep? Would you hold them as they question? Would you listen as they cry? Would you send your people as the hands and feet of Jesus to love in tangible ways. Lord, remind us in the coming days to keep praying as we know the journey will be long and difficult. Thank you that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from your love.  Amen.