Words Tucked In My Heart

I have hidden your word in my heart.

Psalm 119:11

As a family, we all learned Scripture in the car when Kali was a toddler by listening to Steve Green’s Hide ’Em in Your Heart tapes. I have trouble remembering Bible verses, especially the references, so those lively songs were as profitable for me as they were for our daughter. I still find myself humming them in my mind or singing them when I’m alone in the car. Those words came in handy for me on a tragic day we all remember.

My daughter was in fourth grade at the time, and I had the parent privilege of going with her class on their long-awaited field trip to George Washington’s home in Mount Vernon, Virginia. It was the morning of September 11, 2001.

Kali, several friends, and I were seated in the very back of the bus. When we got to Mount Vernon, which is only thirteen miles from the Pentagon, the bus driver parked outside the entrance, and we all waited to get off the bus. As the minutes passed, we started wondering why we weren’t getting off the bus. Finally, we heard the news about what had happened in New York City and at the Pentagon.

As the shock started to seep in, the words tucked in my heart from one of the songs came to mind: “When I am afraid, I will trust in you” (based on Psalm 56:3). By God’s grace, I was able to comfort my daughter and tell her God’s truth. It didn’t change the tragic circumstances or reverse what had happened. But it reminded us that God is in control! We could recall His promises and comfort because these words were hidden in both of our hearts.

We didn’t see Mount Vernon that day. Our bus driver immediately turned around and took us back to school, and the children were given the rest of the day off. What a comfort we have in God’s Word. We can take it anywhere in our hearts and know we can trust the One who gave it to us. He’s a loving God in an unpredictable world, and He has given us not only eternal salvation but earthly peace as well through Christ Jesus, His only Son.

Put Psalm 56:3 in your heart: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.” On this anniversary of 9/11, ask God to comfort those families who are still mourning their great loss as God grieves with them too.