I also remember how we as a nation rallied and came together on September 12, 2001. I remember we were more unified in spirit and in purpose on that day than we had been in a long time previously, and definitely more than we have ever been since. To be sure, some of the patriotism turned into bigotry and hatred against anyone who even looked like they were Middle Eastern or of Arabian descent, but most of us knew who the real enemy was, and that they didn’t represent Arabs or the majority of Muslims.

That was also the time when many people flocked into churches, seeking answers and hope. Many of those people hadn’t been inside a church building in a while– some had never darkened the door of a sanctuary. Hopefully, they heard that God wasn’t taken by surprise by this latest act of terrorism. They heard that God wept with those who were grieving, but also He wasn’t just an empathizing God. He actually had the power to do something about this atrocity and work to turn even this evil for good.

I still choose to believe that God is good. Even in the midst of this beautiful but broken world, God is still working His purposes. Evil never has nor will it ever have the last word. One day, God will prevail and make all things right and restore all that has been stolen and lost and destroyed by evil. God will have the last word and hope will at last prevail.