He Will Never Leave You: A Reflection On 9/11
Dan Wilt
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. …The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:6,8
As I considered the 9/11 anniversary coming up this week, I began to be drawn again to this potent passage, spoken by the prophet Moses to his young friend, Joshua.
“He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Who do you know who never leaves? The mothers and fathers lost in the burning buildings and the destroyed planes of 9/11 left. Husbands and wives, friends and family – they left. They didn’t want to, but they did.
“He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
The children who lost parents during 9/11, before they were born, were recently featured in a prominent magazine to tell their stories. To a child, they miss the parent they never knew. They wish they hadn’t left. But no matter how much wishing we do, hoping we do, even praying we do – people we care about leave us.
“He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Despite our best efforts as parents, we eventually leave our children, and they leave us, many times across the journey of life. I just recently said goodbye to both of my daughters as they went off to college. It’s not permanent, but it felt quite strange, like a new normal was encroaching on our tight-knit family. Not all leaving is bad, but it is hard, and distance challenges our very best dreams.
“He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
Life is full of leavings, goings and moments where we feel lost and alone – even if the leaving is good and important.
“He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
If 9/11 and it’s stories of challenge and hope remind us of anything, it is that there is ultimately only One who stays close, lives forever, and meets us everywhere we will ever be.
“He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
It is a promise, made to you.