September 11, 2014
God’s Love Among the Rubble
Sharon Jaynes
Today’s Truth
“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB).
Friend to Friend
It was the first anniversary of the terrorist bombing of September 11, 2001. The rubble from the World Trade Centers had been cleared and the Pentagon repaired, but men and women all across American still mourned the 3,000 lives that were lost on that dark day. In my hometown, a memorial was set up on an expanse of land with a sea of twelve-inch white crosses representing the men and women who died.
Kathy and her family went to see the memorial. Along with her seventeen-year-old daughter, Heather, Kathy took her three-year-old niece, Taylor. It was difficult for young Taylor to understand exactly what was going on and why so many people were sad, but she obediently walked hand-in-hand with her cousin between the tiny crosses. At some point, little Taylor wandered away from her family.
It was reverently silent as the crowd of mourners looked at the names inscribed on the white memorials. Some crosses were decorated with flowers, others with Teddy Bears or other memorabilia. But nothing spoke more poignantly than the silence broken by quiet sobs.
Then, as if coming directly from heaven, a small voice floated on the breeze. Everyone turned to notice a little girl with outstretched arms twirling in circles among the crosses.
With face lifted toward the sky, she sang…
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me.
The Bible tells me so.
Time seemed to stand still as hundreds of mourners turned their attention to one small girl with a big message. Even in the midst of pain, even with the loss of life, loss of dreams and loss of hope…Jesus still loves us. That love can lift the burden of despair, resurrect our dreams, and restore our hope.
Paul reminds us: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NASB).
Jesus loves me…this I know.
Let's Pray
Jesus, thank You for loving me now matter what. Among the rubble of my life--the shards of broken dreams, the fragments of shattered hopes--I stand firmly on the truth that Your love never fails. You love me…this I know.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
Now It's Your Turn
Take time today to thank Jesus for His great love for you.
Take time today to pray for your country. No matter where you live, God calls us to pray for those who are in leadership. (1 Timothy 2:2 NIV)
More From the Girlfriends
There is so much power in your story! If you would like to learn more about how to turn your pain into purpose, your messes into your message, and your hurt into hope, check out my book, Your Scars are Beautiful to God: Finding Peace and Purpose in the Hurts of Your Past. True freedom comes when you use what you have gone through to minister to someone else. Also, if you have a wound that is yet to heal and become a scar, this resource will help you in that area as well.
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