MIGHTY HAND OF GOD (MY 9/11 EXPERIENCE)

Welcome to Women of Valour which is about

YOU

experiencing your freedom in Christ, being set free,

experiencing the love of God, and opening your blinded eyes

Isaiah 61:1

As I thought about 9/11 yesterday and reflected back on my own experience that surreal day. I am still in AWE. I had forgotten about the feelings, shock, death, panic, etc. The pictures yesterday brought it ALL back to me. I had been in the Air Force for 14 years when it happened. I was stationed at the Pentagon and was inside on that frightful day. I worked in the basement level of the Pentagon. We had heard about the Twin Towers being attacked. As we watched the video, it was like watching a movie: "Independence Day" or "Terminator". We KNOW they are not real. This video did not seem real to us as we gathered around the computer screen. We started discussing how the Pentagon would probably be the next likely target for terrorists to attack. Little did we know, that the plan was already in motion. 

We did not know anything had happened. There was someone running through the halls screaming the Pentagon had been hit with a bomb. I know there are conflicting stories as to what actually hit the building. All I know is the building I worked every day had missing offices and floors because if this incident. People were EVERYWHERE trying to escape the smoke and debris. Cell towers were down so we could not contact family members and they could not contact us. All anyone could do was watch whether on TV or at the actual sites. It was a VERY chaotic time frame, even until a VERY LONG time afterwards. 

My Pastor at the time worked in the Pentagon as well. We worked on opposite sides of the building. But, somehow we ended up about 2 feet away from each other. This was orchestrated by GOD. I was trying to call my Momma who watched CNN religiously back then. I was also looking around for my Pastor. She was doing the same calling her husband and looking for me. I heard her voice and turned around and it was her sitting on the ground. We hugged each other for a long while. We stood there with everyone else in disbelief that our building was on fire in front of our face. 

Everyone was told we could only use the Metro (equivalent of subway) to go into Virginia. We could not get to our cars. So, we went into Virginia to her husband's job. That was a struggle trying to get to and then find space on the trains. When we finally made it to his job it was continuous nonstop CNN. We were bombarded with the pictures of the attacks from that day over and over again. We watched it over and over again and then over and over again. 

We finally started home that evening and they dropped me off at my car which was at the Metro station in Maryland. I thanked them and got into my car. I just sat there with my head on the steering wheel. I could not start the car. I looked up and asked God "How am I still alive when soooooooo many are dead in the building I work in everyday". I heard "The Mighty Hand of God". I just broke down and cried, for the first time I showed some emotion. I later found out I was in shock but did not know it at the time. My body and mind went on autopilot. I drove home and sat on the couch watching it over and over again still not really believing it. 

I got out of the military the very next year. I could not do another year in the military or that building. I watched the building I worked in become a tomb. There were escalators, elevators, offices, hallways, etc. rebuilt but it was never the same for me. Later, that year I had to start deciding if I was going to reenlist. I was praying and asking God what should I do? I believed HE told me to get out. Although, nobody else believed it but I did. I had so much peace about the decision. I did not see it as me throwing away 15 years, which is what everyone kept telling me. I saw it as me trusting God for the next part of my journey. 

The next part of my journey was to become a teacher. I have taught students from preschool to the college level. Through the process, I truly don't know if they taught me more or if I taught them more. I was blessed to teach at each level. God has touched many students and parents through my obedience to HIM. I trusted HIM and HE did and has not let me down. If you choose to trust HIM, HE won't let you down either.

As I look back now, I see how God used that frightful and painful day for me and soooooo many countless others to propel me into the destiny HE had setup/planned for me. (Jeremiah 29:11) There were students that I have touched that only God could have orchestrated. Many times out of our deepest setbacks and pain God can, will, and is using it to set us up for the next phase of our journey with and for HIM. God is NOT moved by our right or wrong choices. HE just uses them to propel each of us to HIS intended outcome. But, we have to choose. 

A new part of this journey has been added. Women of Valour, God is using this ministry to touch people's lives. It is truly NOT about me. It is about bringing darkness to the light. God is using my own life experiences good, bad, and the ugly as a testimony and testament to HIS goodness, grace, mercy, love, peace, etc. to each one of us. 

Prayer: Holy Spirit, show me God's Will in the midst of my setback and pain. Since, You did it for Andrea I choose to believe You can do it for me too.

Question:

What is your setback or pain that God wants to use 
to place you in another part of your journey with HIM? 
Will you let HIM do it?

I pray something you read touched your heart to walk closer to God. 

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www.womenofvalour15.blogspot.com