The day of the World Trade Center tragedy, I was at school, a few blocks away from the area. I was sitting in my second class of the day when an announcement from our assistant principal informed us that a plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers. Upon hearing this, everyone started to make comments, but assuming it was only an accident, dismissed it as news that would be reported that day and forgotten the next.

When I arrived at my next class, I found my classmates watching the news on our classroom TV, with our President assuring the country that those involved in the "terrorism" of that morning would be found. It was then that I learned that it was no mere accident; it was an act that would undeniably affect us all. This thought was confirmed when we lost TV reception as the classroom lights flickered and we felt the building tremble. We were soon instructed to evacuate the building. As we headed for the exit, the lights flickered again with the sudden shaking of the building. With that, panic swiftly swept over the student body, with some who emitted shrieks and others who darted towards the crowded exit. Sensing the momentary panic, I felt hysteria rising within me, but only for a brief moment. Somehow, I knew that even in the situation we were in, where our safety couldn't be guaranteed, I didn't need to panic; I had the Lord Jesus within me.

God was with me, as He has promised in the Bible always would be, and I did not need to be afraid. "Be strong and take courage, do not fear, neither be terrified of them, for it is Jehovah your God who goes with you; He will not fail you nor forsake you." (Deut. 31:6). Romans 10:13 tells us that "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved," and I needed to be saved from all my fears. In Psalm 91:15, the Lord says, "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in distress." These verses were very comforting to me.

As I exited the building, debris was flying in every direction. I observed the spectrum of reactions of those around me. Some still seemed carefree, as if nothing serious had happened, while others grew increasingly hysterical and terrified. As I looked around at my peers, I realized that while deeply affected by the gravity of the situation, I remained calm and secure within my deepest part. America's sense of security had collapsed with the Towers, but I still felt protected. This, I recognized, was the Lord's presence within my spirit. He reunited me with my mom that day, and kept our trip home safe and sound.

That night in the Church prayer meeting, the words of a hymn we sang reflected my experience with the Lord that morning:

"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."

In the next verse, the Lord seemed to make a promise to the people of New York:

"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify thee to thy deepest distress."

And to each individual affected by the tragedy:

"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I'll never, no never, no never forsake!"

Even in a time like this, when our own human, man-made sense of security is shattered, there is one thing that is - and will always be - still intact, still definite, still secure. The Twin Towers - so strong, so resolute, and seemingly so permanent - disappeared in less than two hours. The Lord Jesus, however, is forever solid and sure, and He is always with His own. By accepting and receiving Him as one's life and Savior, He enters man's spirit and resides there to live each day together with him. In difficult times, we can be assured that God is still with us. In Psalm 23:4, the author prays to God,

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I do not fear evil, for You are with me". Today, God can live within us as well. Romans 10:13 tells us that "whoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved" indicates that by calling "O Lord Jesus" with an open and earnest heart, one can be saved from his or her sorrows and fears, by letting the Lord Jesus enter and dwell within his heart.