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The following is the substance of Billy Graham's address at Washington's National Cathedral on Friday, 14 September 2001.
We come to confess our need of God.
We've always needed God from the beginning of this nation, but today we especially need him as we're facing a new kind of enemy, and we need the help of the Spirit of God.
The Bible words give us confidence: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
But how do we understand it all? Why does God allow such evil? Let me say God understands how you are feeling. We've seen scenes that bring tears to our eyes and arouse deep anger. But God can be trusted even when life is at its darkest.
What are the lessons?
1 The mystery and reality of evil. I cannot adequately fathom why God allows suffering. I have to accept by faith that God is sovereign, and he is also a God of mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering.
The Bible says God is not the author of evil. Paul talks about the mystery of iniquity (1Thess 2:7) and Jeremiah talking about the deceitfulness of the human heart says: "who can understand it?" That's one reason we all need God in our lives.
2 We also need each other. We have seen how the perpetrators' intention to tear us apart has backfired on them and we are more united than before.
3 There is hope; hope for the present and hope for the future.
The stage is set for a new spirit. We desperately need a spiritual renewal, we need a spiritual revival. God says in His Word: if we repent of our sins and turn to him, he will bless us in a new way. Then also hope for the future, because of God's promises.
As a Christian, I have a hope not just for this life but for heaven and the life to come. Today many are in heaven and wouldn't want to come back, it is so wonderful and glorious. I pray you'll have this hope in your heart. For this event reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life. We never know when we too might be called into eternity. Which is why we need to face our spiritual need and commit ourselves to God and His will now.
All around this Cathedral are symbols of the cross, which for the Christian, tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering. He took upon himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, our sin and our suffering and from the cross God declares: 'I love you. I know the heartache and the sorrows and the pain that you feel and I love you'.
But it does not end with the cross. Easter point us beyond the tragedy of the cross to the empty tomb. I tell us there is hope for eternal life, for Christ conquered evil and death and hell. Yes, there is hope.
The older I get the more I cling to that hope.
We all watched in horror as planes crashed into the glass and steel of the World Trade Centre, those majestic towers built on solid foundation were examples of the prosperity and creativity of America.
When damaged, those buildings eventually fell to the ground imploding in upon themselves, yet underneath the debris was a foundation that was not destroyed.
Therein lies the truth of the old hymn 'How firm a foundation.' Yes, our nation has been attacked. Now we have a choice: whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people, or choose to become stronger to rebuild on that solid foundation.
That foundation is our trust in God.
In this faith we have the strength to endure something as horrendous and difficult as all we've experienced this week. It's been a week of tears, but also great faith, as all over the world people are praying.
That great hymn, 'How firm a foundation' contains these words
Fear not I am with thee,
0 be not dismayed;
for I am thy God
and will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen thee, help thee,
and cause thee to stand,
upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.'
Billy Graham
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