A sharp rap sounded on our hotel room door. I opened it to find my mother-in-law, wide-eyed and pale. “Turn on your TV! Any channel! There’s been a terrorist attack in New York City.”
And suddenly our vacation found us staring at a television screen — my husband’s mouth gaping. He used to live in New York City. Years before he had enjoyed lunch with a friend at the World Trade Center which was now huffing oily, evil smoke from both towers. In horror we watched the massive structures of steel and concrete buckle under the intense heat.
Is this real? Is this not some sort of sick movie? But my heart, silently keening, answered, No. This is very, very real.
Stunned and nauseous, we eventually checked out of the hotel so we could travel from Moab, UT, where we’d hiked Arches National Park the day before, to Bryce Canyon National Park, where we’d camp for the next few days. To protect our children from further trauma, we left the radio off. It was a quiet five hours in the front seat as my husband and I tried to sort through what had happened.
Tucked into our tent that night, I had to wrestle down a panic attack. What if the terrorists are hiding out in national parks? What if they’re here?! This fear was founded on the fact that a few days earlier we’d been detained in Yellowstone National Park with all the exits closed while officials hunted down fugitives from Minnesota.
In the days that followed September 11, 2001, we observed the reaction of America across the West. Employees at a Grand Canyon lodge offered comfort by airing the prayer service televised from Washington’s National Cathedral. Along the highways we watched uncertainty spike gas prices, while patriotism cried out on marquees, “United We Stand.” Flags waved bravely while businesses and churches proclaimed “God Bless America.”
In the blink of an eye, the United States of America had changed — never to be the same again. Our veil of safety torn open like gaping holes in burning buildings.
I hoped this attack would spark a revival — a returning to the only true Provider of safety and freedom. However, as I watched the impact on my beloved homeland, and prayed for a move of God, I became convinced a true revival needed to happen in the souls of individuals before it could happen in the heart of a nation.
When I got really honest, I knew a lasting spiritual awakening needed to start in me.
An awakening to who the true terrorist is:
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood . . . (Ephesians 6:12)
An awakening to who my true Protector is:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust’. (Psalm 91:1-2)
And an awakening to my own responsibility to pray for this country:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Near the end of our vacation, gazing at a starry display of God’s power, I searched again for truth to still my fears. How in the world can I now live free of terror? And once again, Scripture responded.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear. . . (1 John 4:18)
Perfect love. A weapon wielded effective only when fully trusting the One who loves perfectly. Sheltered under the wing of the everlasting God is the surest way to turn something terrifying into something terror-defying.
Sixteen years later, we continue to remember the heartache and heroism that marked the day the Twin Towers fell. We also recognize that Jesus continues to do daily life with us through broken and uncertain times.
The past few weeks we’ve defied enemies named Harvey, Irma, and raging forest fires. And in the messes, we’ve come together: handing out water bottles and meals, cleaning flooded homes, donating funds for repairs and replacements. And we’ve prayed with renewed vigor.
Because above all, we believe more than anything else, this God of perfect love is faithful.
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Like the nation of Israel we read about in Scripture, our reforms and revivals tend to be short-lived, ending when the crisis abates. May we live our way into an awareness of the holiness of God and our own daily need so that we do a better job of embodying our belief in God’s faithful love.
Blessings to you, Cheri — your ministry to mums and their kids (in your bio) sounds so wonderful!
AMEN! Michele. Such truth. Thank you.
Cheri
Cheri,
Yes, this has been a very unnerving several days. First waiting, watching, worrying about what Irma would do to my mom and cousins in Florida, and then revisiting 9/11 by watching documentaries on that day. It really sunk in that I/we need to seek shelter beneath His wings. The Psalms in His Word were my comfort. I tried to allow love speak over my heart instead of fear because, as you pointed out, perfect love drives out fear. As Michele pointed out, our revivals are often short lived. All the more reason for God’s followers to really take hold of the power over fear that we have. We have Jesus and He can overcome anything. Great post!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Thank you, Bev. I trust your family is all okay now. I have dear friends in both the Houston area and in FL. I prayed like crazy during those days. I’m so glad for the Psalms. How could any of us survive without them? But, as you said, in life or death, disease of disaster, Jesus overcomes.
Blessings to you and your loved ones,
Cheri
Thank-you for sharing your experience of 9/11 and the reminder of the truth of God’s faithfulness. We too were on vacation on the day of the attack, and had a similar experience with the shock and reactions of people throughout the day. We also were prevented from hiking a mountain trail (that was in a state park), because it was closed, and had to shelter our then young sons (not quite 3 and 5 yrs. old), while trying to find out enough to be informed.
Thank God for people who reach out and sacrifice to help, and may we trust God in our circumstances and be those who reach out to others in need as well.
K Ann, it’s fun to hear of your own story, so similar to ours. It was a rather vulnerable experience for me. I so wished I was home with my church. I longed to mourn as a Christian community. At the same time, it was an honor to watch how the country reacted.
How I’d liked to have preached in the face of America to humble ourselves before God. But, alas, that wasn’t going to happen. Instead, I’m learning to humble myself. Even when the hurricanes, fires, and earthquakes are far removed from me, it’s a great soul-search to determine what I need to do to help.
Thank you for sharing with me/us.
Blessings to you and your now grown-up young men,
Cheri
♥
Back at you, sister! Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this! I love how you remind us that even in the midst of tumultuous times God is faithful. This rings true in my life for sure!
You’re very welcome, Dorina. Isn’t it at times like these, our Savior becomes so precious? I’m so glad we are privileged to discover Him along the way.
Silently keening, perhaps all women do that at times, like Mary. We do need to realize who the real terrorist is and who keeps us safe, individuals can spark a revival. If terrorist can case so much fear destruction and damage, how much more can Jesus do?
Rebecca,
Amen! Amen! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
Cherie,
The reforms & revivals of our country are very short lived. We’ve had turbulent years with our nation being divided. It is sad that it takes tragedies like Harvey & Irma to bring the best out of us. It in times like these that God’s love is shown. I pray that our country gets the revival it so desperately needs. We need to come back to the one true God of love. I will pray fervently for this & try my best to show His love to all!
Blessings 🙂
I’m right there with you, Beth.