Reflections on 9/11- For God Made My Heart Weak

With a generation that remembers significant moments in U.S. History, the bombing of Pearl Harbor ( December 7, 1941), D-Day (June 6, 1944), The Vietnam War (January 27, 1973/ April 30, 1975,) each of us can remember where we were on 9/11.

What was initially thought of as a horrible accident soon revealed itself to be an attack on America, (our strength, people and pride). How our collective countenance sank as we learned of, not one, but four planes sent on a suicide mission to destroy as many lives as possible. Neither the twin towers, their massive presence nor our military fortress- the Pentagon, could shield the vulnerable souls therein from this heinous attack. The plane on its way to the White House would see the mastermind’s plans thwarted as several of its passengers counted the cost and rendered the mission a failure-though it cost them their lives as their plane crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. God saw it. God allowed it.

This unexpected physical blow delivered without warning, struck our hubris and caused severe, adverse physical, emotional and spiritual damage. We were humbled by an underestimated enemy and certainly we as a nation were humbled to the point of asking, what Job may have thought, what have we done to deserve this?  God saw it. God allowed it.

“Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10) What a hard question to ask when we are in despair.  Every year for the past 25 years, we aim to reflect on the lives lost on that day, the lives lost to this point because of that day, and the ripple effects still being felt today.  As a nation of Christians, may we also individually reflect on 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  Oh, brothers and sisters, don’t let the rest of your days go by without you personally seeking the Lord, “seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7

Remember this day with solemn reverence and gratitude. In God’s sovereignty He sees, and He allows things we may not understand on this side of glory. All we know is Romans 8:28 and that “He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him. 15 Therefore I am terrified at His presence; when I consider this, I am afraid of Him.16 For God made my heart weak,” Job 23:13-16a

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You made our hearts weak and rightly so. Please bring Your comfort to the hearts of 9/11 families. I pray that this nation and we its people will humble ourselves, turn our hearts toward You, repent from our sins, believe on Jesus as Savior, and serve Him with all our minds, hearts, soul and strength. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
By Sis. Paula Smith