A Day That We Will Never Forget

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

For this generation, 9-11 is a date that is on the minds of many today. That is because of the attack on the twin towers.  For parents generation it was Dec 7, 1941 – the attack on Pearl Harbor. Those are days that, as President Franklin Roosevelt said, “will live in infamy.” For Japan, perhaps August 6 and 9, 1945 when atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  I am focused on the effect on the population and not the reason for the action.   When tragedies on the scale of those events happens entire societies are affected.  But there are those that happen to communities and families that are on a smaller scale but no less impactful. The date and what happened on that date are etched into the minds and hearts of those affected.

I wrote yesterday about Heart Pain and how it is different from physical pain.  You may not be able to re-feel the pain of a physical injury, but it only takes a word or a thought to bring back the pain of the moment when your heart was broken. 

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted  and saves those who are crushed in spirit. – Psalm 34:17-28

Most people who hear about 9-11 or read about it, may be troubled by it, but only those directly affected will be reminded of the personal loss and the emotional pain that came with it.  Many reading this have experienced the death of a loved one.  If you haven’t – you will. For those without hope of the resurrection – of eternal life in Jesus – it is doubly sad.  They must endure the loss with no hope for the future.  Oh, but for those who placed their faith in the Savior – even Jesus Christ.  

“But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

My words may not bring relief for the pain you feel in your heart at the remembrance of your loss, but the “Balm of Gilead” can.  Take your sorrow to the Lord – the heart healer.