He Overcomes

He Overcomes

[Jesus said,] “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

On a recent trip to Pennsylvania Amish country my friend and I wanted to stop by the Flight 93 Memorial. I plugged the location into my GPS, and when I approached the gates, I was surprised to see that I was only a mile away from Amish homes. My guess is that the Amish were some of the first people to the crash site, although, of course, there was nothing they could do for those brave victims.

The local Lancaster paper had a short article on the “Amish reaction” to the shocking events of September 11, 2001. They were as horrified as anyone else. Indeed, the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania went down in an area partly populated by Plain folk. Most of what they knew and saw came from newspapers and magazines, not TV.

A few flags did appear in windows, although the church did not condone such shows of “patriotism.” There were auctions here organized by non-Amish, to which Amish donated many valuable items. While they do support the government, many wished there could have been a non-military solution, and surely prayers were offered for those who lost their lives on both sides of the conflict.

After the tragedy on September 11, many Americans did what the Amish have been doing for thousands of years: they turned to God. Churches were packed, and neighbors cared for and prayed for one another in ways they never had before. When our world was shaken, many turned to the unshakable foundation.

I love our country, and I’m thankful for those in the military who sacrifice so much to protect us. But each of us needs to look to God as our ultimate Source of protection and peace. Even when evil comes and fills us with fear, we must remember that in the end, God is the victor!

Dear heavenly Father, I thank You for being with us when we face troubles in this life. You are our sure foundation. Thank You for overcoming the world in Jesus!