This year commemorates the 20th anniversary of one of America’s darkest days – 9/11. Anyone who was old enough to remember that tragic day can probably tell you where they were and what they were doing when they first heard the news that our nation had been attacked by terrorists. I know I can – I was a senior walking the halls of Enka High School. I vividly recall huddling around a television set with my classmates watching the horror unfold as we saw the second plane crash into the south tower of the World Trade Center.
In the days that followed we heard all kinds of stories – sad ones, courageous ones, amazing ones – all unforgettable. One of those that stuck with me was the story of Jennifer Sands.
Jennifer Sands
knows how God works through evil to bring about good. Her husband, Jim Sands,
perished on the morning of September 11, 2001 when the twin towers fell. His
office was on the 103rd floor of Tower One. She was in a dark pit in
the aftermath of that tragedy. Jennifer said most of her anger was directed at
God because he failed to protect her husband even though she prayed for him
every day.
That first Christmas after 9/11, her heart was broken as she trudged through the mall. But she dropped a dollar into the red Salvation Army kettle and received a card in exchange for her gift. She collapsed wearily into her car and read the card to find distraction from her heart’s pain. It bore a picture of the American flag, a silhouette of the towers bearing the words: “9–11–01 – We Will Not Forget You” and this scripture verse: “For I know the plans I have for you, not to harm you, but plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).
Jennifer recalls, “It was the first time in my life– ever–that I had taken notice of a Bible verse. Sure, I had seen Bible verses before, but I never paid attention to them. The words ‘hope and future’ jumped out at me. More importantly, it seemed like God himself had just broken the silence and spoken to me. Because of that verse, I opened the Bible for the first time in my life and started reading it. That Scripture verse changed things.” Soon after exploring the Bible, Jennifer repented of her sins and surrendered her life to Christ.
Jennifer is certain that had it not been for 9/11 then she probably would have never taken time to listen to the Gospel. On her website she wrote, “Where was God on 9/11? I can tell you now—without a doubt—that God was with me, even though I didn't see it back then. I didn't realize it until later . . . when I had calmed down . . . when I stopped screaming at Him . . . when I was able to stop and look and see Him there. Our grief blinds us to the reality of God's presence. When we're in pain, the pain is all we can think about—it's all we can feel. But I know that God was there with me on that day, just as He is with me right now.”[1]
WOW! What a testimony of how God worked through the pain and tears of a victim’s grief to show His unfailing love and endless grace. 20 years ago, many Americas wondered, “Where was God on 9/11.” Yet, God was right there in the midst of our darkness. When you look at the cross, God took an evil form of capital punishment and turned it into a way for the world to have salvation through His Son – Jesus Christ. What man meant for evil, God turned into the greatest good. The God of the Bible knows our hurt, our violence, our grief and our pain.
God has entered into problem of human suffering. The reason we can know that God is good is because Jesus has wounds, and by those wounds He reversed the curse of sin and emerged victorious on the other side. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery” (2:14-15).
I will leave you with an excerpt from a favorite website of mine. “When thinking of September 11, we tend to forget the thousands of miracles that occurred on that day. Hundreds of people were able to flee the buildings just in the nick of time. A small handful of firemen and one civilian survived in a tiny space in a stairwell as the one of the towers collapsed around them. The passengers on Flight 93 defeating the terrorists was a miracle in and of itself. Yes, September 11 was a terrible day. Sin reared its ugly head and caused great devastation. However, God is still in control. His sovereignty is never to be doubted. Could God have prevented what happened on September 11? Of course He could, but He chose to allow the events to unfold exactly as they did. He prevented that day from being as bad as it could have been. Since September 11, how many lives have been changed for the better? How many people have placed their faith in Christ for salvation as a result of what happened? The words of Romans 8:28 should always be in our minds when we think of 9-11, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose.”[2]
-DM
[1]
Jennifer Sands, “Where Was God on 9/11?” <
https://jennifersands.com/>
[2] “Where
Was God on 9/11,” Got Questions <https://www.gotquestions.org/9-11.html>
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