“There’s a peace I’ve come to know”
“Jesus has overcome”
“There’s a day that’s drawing near”
“And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise…”
That’s the question on a lot of minds on a day like today.
And I understand that question. There are many events in my own life I’ve wondered where God was.
It was a day none of us will forget for so many reasons. The day quickly became dark and tragic, but there were also more acts of heroism that day, of light in the darkness, than we will ever fully know.
Like 24-year-old Welles Crowther who called his mother from the South Tower to let her know he was okay, and then began to lead others to safety, carrying an injured woman on his back down 15 floors and then returning to help more.
And Rick Rescorla who, as a head of security in the South Tower, ignored orders to keep employees at their desks, saving 2700 people.
And Army Specialist Beau Doboszenski who was working as a tour guide on the other side of the Pentagon. Upon hearing the chaos, he ran to the crash site and spent the next several hours helping co-workers and running into the flames to help bring people out.
These acts of heroism are amazing enough, but looking at their backstories, we can see just a little bit of the hand of God orchestrating the saving of so many lives.
Like the fact that Welles Crowther had been a volunteer firefighter in his teens and was well prepared to confidently lead. Even the fact that somehow that day he had been wearing a red bandana that was able to keep him from breathing in too much smoke as he saved at least 12 people. His body was found in a stairwell headed back up with the jaws of life.
And like the fact that Rick Rescorla had served in Vietnam, with distinction, and had the wisdom to lead his people to safety. And for years he had the forethought to have the employees practice fire drills. Because of that, more than 2700 people made it down the tower to safety in 16 minutes. Rick Rescorla’s body was never found.
And like the fact that Beau Doboszenski was a former firefighter and a trained EMT.
Too many lives were lost that day. The enemy of all that is good and right and holy was there to cause death and destruction and what he’d love to leave in his evil wake is a doubt and mistrust that God was there or that He even exists.
But God is the one who prepared people years in advance with special training and placed them where they needed to be when they needed to be there.
God is the Giver of strength, courage, wisdom, and perseverance.
God is the one who instills in people His love, the greater love that lays down his life for others.
We’ll never fully understand the whys this side of heaven, about that fateful day, or about tragic days in our own personal lives.
But God knows.
Years later we can catch a small glimpse into the behind-the-scenes stories of that day, shining a light on some of the good, among countless other similar sacrificial stories that took place among the evil and about how God was there in their midst.
God sees the full picture. And we can trust He was there that day giving strength to heroes just as He’s with us every day, including our worst days, filling us with His strength, courage, and hope.
And someday maybe God will show us all the behind-the-scenes stories of those awful days in our own lives and how He was right there with us in the midst of it all.
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 1 Cor. 13:12b
Heavenly Father, thank you for never leaving us or forsaking us. Thank you for preparing a home for us and giving us the hope of being with you someday, when you will have struck down evil for the last time, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. Thank you for the incredible bravery of so many men and women on that day, for giving what we know was even beyond their own strength . We pray for those who lost loved ones that day. We ask that you would be especially near to them today, and that you would comfort them with your peace that passes all understanding. We know that you will prevail, that you’ve already conquered evil at the cross, and we pray for many more souls to come to know Christ as their own Lord and Savior, even today. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
My dear friend posted this song the other day and it was just what I needed. Duane Clark and his brother, Terry, are pioneers of the contemporary Christian music genre. If you’d like to have some of their music for your own, you can check it out here.
I pray this song blesses you, too, and reminds you of how very much God loves you through anything and everything you go through.
I pray you’re always reminded of that when you come here, that you’re always drawn to Jesus and His love and hope, and that it causes you to want to walk with Him closer than the day before.
Heavenly Father, we praise your precious and holy name. No matter what’s going on in our world, you are ultimately in control and you are worthy of all praise and glory. We worship you and you alone. We set our eyes upon you, and desire to be one with you in heart and mind.
Father, so many of us are weary of what’s going on in our world right now. We grieve for the church and the persecution it’s experiencing all over the world.
We grieve for those who have lost loved ones;
we grieve for those who are out of work and struggling to provide for their families;
we grieve for the children who are growing up in the middle of the chaos and confusion;
and we grieve for the lost who have been blinded and led astray by the evil one.
Father, we pray you would renew our strength and our joy in you. While we wait, your precious Son has given us a promise – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Help us to be near you, Lord, and cast our cares upon you, and find our rest in you. We pray for your peace that passes all understanding.
We pray you would show us where a brother or sister is struggling so we can pray for them and help them in whatever way you would have us.
Remind us always, to continue in prayer for all the saints, and let us be about your business, Father, until you come to take us home. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
