Where were you on 9/11? I was a rookie professor in Minnesota. I had just moved across the Atlantic Ocean. All my cupboards were still very empty, I did not yet know many people, and I was still searching for the right church home. So the horrendous news made me feel very vulnerable and lonely. But I was not devastated. Because I knew my life was in God’s hands.

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?
   No, my strength comes from God,
      who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
(Psalm 121: 1-2, MSG)

I told my students that day that it was a good day to be a Christian. It was a shockingly awful day, no question about that. Thousands of people lost their lives and the world changed forever. It definitively was not a good day in that sense. But it was a good day to be a Christian because exactly in disasters our faith in Christ shows its true colors. When the world gets darker around us the tremendous light of Christ shines even more brightly. God’s love or promises will never fail. 9/11 or not we are in God’s hands.

For even if the mountains walk away
   and the hills fall to pieces,
My love won’t walk away from you,
   my covenant commitment of peace won’t fall apart.
(Isaiah 54:10, MSG)

Christianity is not an empty religion with fake rituals. Christianity is about God who sent his only son to die for all people so they could be set right with God. Christianity is about living in grace and enjoying a loving relationship with our Father. Christianity is about Living God giving love and more love, life and more life for his children on their way back home.

As Christians we know this world is not everything. This world is only our temporary home, we are citizens of heaven. As Christians we know that because of God’s grace we are ready to meet our Maker at any moment. As long as we are in the world there will be suffering and hardships but when we get to heaven there are no more tears. As Christians we know that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Not even 9/11! We are in God’s hands! Hallelujah!

Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
   They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
   We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (Romans 8: 35-39, MSG)

Gracious God,
Thank you for being our security
in the midst of chaos.
Thank you for loving us and
providing us life and more life in Jesus.
Strengthen our faith in disasters,
amplify your voice in catastrophes.
We pray for the victims of 9/11 and their loved ones.
We pray for peace among nations.
Make us peacemakers,
bearers of Good News for all.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Where were you on 9/11?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you boldly continue your journey of faith!

Image courtesy of Julio Pineda