God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Psalm 46:1–2
Twenty-five years ago today, Americans watched scenes that seemed almost unimaginable. On the morning of September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks took nearly three thousand lives and brought a sudden sense of vulnerability to our nation. In the hours and days that followed, families grieved, first responders rushed into danger, churches opened their doors, and people across the country prayed.
For many who lived through that day, the memories remain vivid. We remember where we were when we first heard the news. We remember the uncertainty of not knowing what might happen next. And we remember being confronted with how quickly life can change.
Long before September 11, the psalmist described circumstances in which it seemed as though the most stable parts of life had been shaken: “though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” Yet his confidence was not in circumstances becoming predictable again. His confidence was in God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Twenty-five years later, the world is still uncertain. No government, economy, military, or personal plan can guarantee that tomorrow will unfold as we expect. But God has not changed. He was our refuge then, and He is our refuge today.
Remembering September 11 should remind us of the brevity of life and the importance of living each day with eternal priorities. But it should also remind us that when everything around us seems uncertain, we have a refuge that cannot be shaken. God is not distant from us in times of trouble. He is “a very present help.”
