On September 11, it will be 24 years since the terrorist attack in the USA. You probably remember your reaction to this horrific news. I remember seeing the pictures on TV, and not really believing it. I certainly couldn’t understand it. The world was shocked that something like this could happen in our supposedly safe, civilised world.
My brother had visited the Twin Towers just a few weeks prior to the attack. I broke down when I phoned him, thinking that it could have been him. Even now, seeing the pictures of Ground Zero, I am astounded about the whole event. I think the events of 9/11 changed the world.
“Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners crashing the first two into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the third into the Pentagon (headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense) in Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth plane crashed in a rural Pennsylvania field during a passenger revolt. In response to the attacks, the United States waged the global war on terror over multiple decades to eliminate hostile groups deemed terrorist organizations, as well as the governments purported to support them.” Wikipedia 9/11
The world is in a mess
Recently, I wrote A Good Night’s Sleep, where I prayed for all those who suffer from inability to sleep, including those suffering in wars and conflict. The world really does seem to be a mess right now.
After the 9/11 attack, Anne Graham Lotz was asked was asked how God could let this happen. Her supposed response was shared all over the internet. However, some have suggested that what was posted was not what she said. After doing some research, I think that the following is an accurate account of the interview. If you think I’m wrong, please let me know.
How could God let this happen?
From: Why doesn’t God step in
“Two days after the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Centre, Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, was interviewed by Jane Clayson on the Early Show. Her answer to one question stands out to this day as a soundbite for the ages. It still resonates today.
Now, nearly 19 years later, our country faces another major crisis that has our country in a virtual state of shock. So many people, today as then, wonder why bad things happen. Why doesn’t God step in? Anne’s answer to this question is below.
Early Show host Jane Clayson: ‘I’ve heard people say, those who are religious, those who are not, if God is good, how could God let this happen? To that, what do you say?’
Anne Graham Lotz: ‘I say God is also angry when he sees something like this.
I would say also for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace.
And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection.
We need to turn to God first of all and say, God, we’re sorry we have treated you this way and we invite you now to come into our national life. We put our trust in you. We have our trust in God on our coins, we need to practise it.’
Maybe God doesn’t step in, simply because we have made such a concerted effort to keep Him out. There is a simple remedy to this: prayer.”
In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophets, asking His people to trust and obey Him, and He promised His love, protection and blessing.
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
I will be found by you,” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:12-14a
If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth…
You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out…The Lord will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the Lord your God and walk in obedience to him…
The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands…
If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.
Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.
Deuteronomy 28: 1-14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
For more information on Anne Graham Lotz, this is from her website: Anne Graham Lotz_My response to 9/11
What about you?
Do you remember where you were on 9/11/2001?
What was your reaction?
Do you think Anne Graham Lotz is correct in her answer to “How could God let this happen?”