Our Daily Bread: Remembering 9/11Sýnishorn

The Mercy of God

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away. -Psalm 31:9

September 11, 2021, marks the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in the US. It’s difficult to think about that date without mental images of the destruction, grief, and loss that swept over America and the world. The loss of thousands of lives was compounded by the depth of loss felt as a community—a lost sense of security as a country. Sorrow, both shared and personal, will always accompany the memory of the events of that day.

But for me, those horrific events are not the only painful memories of September 11. That day also marks the anniversary of my father-in-law’s death. Jim’s loss is felt deeply within our family and his circle of friends. For our family, September 11 will always hold double grief. 

Grief is common to us all. No matter what kind of sorrow we experience, there is only one real comfort—the mercy of God. David, in his own heartache, cried to his heavenly Father, “Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress. Tears blur my eyes. My body and soul are withering away” (Psalm 31:9). Only in the mercy of God can we find comfort for our pain and peace for our troubled hearts. 

In all losses, we can turn to the true Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who alone can heal our brokenness and grief.

Thank You, loving God, that You’re with us in our suffering, You also provide an inexhaustible supply of comfort.

Bill Crowder