Today marks twelve years since September 11, 2001, but the heaviness, lack of understanding and even frustrations seem to be just as present in the hearts of Americans today as they were twelve years ago. Today we walk a little heavier, remember with clarity and have a perspective that focuses outside of our daily routines, jobs, and tasks.
Most people can tell you where they were, what they thought, and how they felt on that day twelve years ago. Personally, I remember sitting in my fourth grade classroom and watching the teachers cry and whisper in the hallway. I didn’t understand what was happening. After school that day, my dad and I went to go feed our goats like we always did, but that day I looked him in the eye and asked him why he was so sad. He told me again what happened and that sometimes it’s easy to know that God has a plan, but hard to understand what it is in a certain moment. I didn’t understand.
Today, I still don’t understand. My fiancé is currently deployed to the Middle East and much of it is a result of what happened that day and in the days after. As a fourth grader, he decided that day that he wanted to serve our country. Today, that sacrifice is a reality for us both. However, there are many days that I still don’t understand.
In my lack of understanding, there is one truth that gives me unending hope and joy: God understands. As I search in the scriptures I see that Job, Joseph, Paul, and many others didn’t fully understand each trial that came, but what they did understand was that God, in writing a beautiful meta-narrative, has sculpted a master plan that ends in eternal victory.
God has a plan in our lack of understanding and He has a plan in the midst of our pain. Today, I pray that we trust that while sin has left this world broken and painful, we hope in the plan of a God who has written each intimate detail out until completion.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whohave been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).