It's been 22 years since 9/11 and the terrorist attacks. The youth of our church weren't even born when that happened. But it has effected the world they live in.
I remember that day quite clearly. I was a pastor in New York at the time, right on the top of the Bronx. That day had a profound effect on New Yorkers for a long time; and it still does to many.
The Sunday after the towers came down, the church was full. People were looking for answers. I remember using Psalm 11 on that day, especially the lines:
what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in his holy temple;
the Lord's throne is in heaven;
his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.
Foundations were destroyed that day. Many people were shaken. But the Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord and His reign did not fall like the towers. And note this line: his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. Eyelids. You only see them when someone's eyes are closed. And that day, it perhaps seemed as if that was the case with God - that His eyes were closed to what was happening to us.
But, the psalmist says, no. His eyelids TEST us. That we turn to God not because everything is going well and just the way we want it - we turn to Him in faith, in trust, relying on His promises. Kingdoms come and go, even our own. But the Lord endures forever. He has promised us His love and forgiveness, and we have them. He does use suffering and tragedy for our good, in ways we perhaps cannot fathom or imagine. So even in times and on days like 9/11, we look to God as our Father, cry out to Him for help, and know that He will provide.
That was a tough day. There have been many more since then. You've had tough days in your life, too. But this much is certain: The Lord is in His holy temple. The Lord reigns. He sees. He knows. He is FOR YOU. And He is - and will be - victorious.
but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
~ Psalm 34:19
