Then, after a few horrifying minutes, a second commercial airplane hit the second Tower. At this point people began to realize that the United States of America was under attack by a foreign enemy. President George W. Bush was visiting an elementary school in Florida when he received the news of the attack by then Chief of Staff, Andrew Card. The President maintained as best as he could a sense of calmness when he received the news as not to startle the children or other adults present in the classroom with him. As he was scurried off to the White House's jumbo plane, Air Force One (which becomes Air Force One when the President is aboard), President Bush wanted to immediately return to Washington, D.C. to inform the nation from the Oval Office that our Country was under attack. Under advisement, Air Force One remained airborne for the safety of the President.
Then, when it seemed that the firemen and rescue men were starting to make way, one of the Towers collapsed: one floor on top of another until the entire Tower came tumbling down. The second Tower minutes later came tumbling down as did the first. News of other commercial airliners being taken hostage were being reported. One of them flew into the Pentagon while another was lost in Pennsylvania after brave Americans tried to take over the plane from its hostage takers.
It was finished. The attack that was plotted against the United States was through. Rejoicing in other parts of the world by the attackers, Al Qaeda, was taking place. Anguish and turmoil on American soil was ever present all over the Country. President Bush declared war against terrorism and any country that was harboring terrorists. As for the war on terror, it still ever rages from every corner of the world.
But to whom shall we turn in tragedies such as this? To whom shall we go? The Psalmist wrote these poignant words:
May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high! May He send you help from the sanctuary and support you from Zion! May He remember all your meal offerings and find your burnt offering acceptable! May He grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your counsel! We will sing for joy over your victory, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the LORD fulfill all your petitions. Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand. Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God. They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright. Save, O LORD; may the King answer us in the day we call. (Psalm 20:1-9)The point is this: You can trust in all of the man made solutions that arise from incidents like this or you can trust in the God who is the Sovereign over all things — including the tragedies that all of face in this world.
So, one must ask themselves: Will I trust in what I can do and what others like me can do? Or, will I boast in the name of the LORD, our God and trust Him to see me through? It is without a shadow of doubt in my mind that I not only will but must turn to the Sovereign. It is in Him that I find peace in the midst of tragedy.Many people will turn to the government for help in times like 9/11. However, there are many who will turn to the Lord for His saving of them — especially in times of tragedy like 9/11.
