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A decade later after the tragic incident of 9/11, people are still reflecting on how their friends and families suffered. The healing is slow, if not possible, to most of the families suffered from the loss and it has been a very difficult situation for the country – it changed almost everything the government operates. My heart goes to those who were suffered. It is my prayer that God’s all comfort is upon them…

Most of us may or may not have experienced life storms before. If you did, it might create a deep wound or a scar in your heart. Years later, the feeling of hurt may still come up when certain conditions stimulate it. Can we forget what have happened? No. On one hand, this is a good thing because we could feel the pain from the situations we experienced and learn from it. On the other hand, however, it would be bad to stay in that hurtful condition continuously and it might generate resentment and bitterness afterward. Can we forgive? Yes, if we believe in God’s mercy. Let’s all learn from the lesson that God wants us to learn.

Under modern society, 911 is an emergency hot line to provide help to whoever is under an urgent situation. Depending upon the situation and condition, the help may come in a phone call away. The only exception is when you have no access to a phone. At that time, what can you do?  Using your own voice to cry out “HELP! HELP!” would be the only option, I think. Crying for help has been the most basic and effective way that God provided for us to deal with hopeless situations. For example, Palmist David wrote,

Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught because of what my enemy is saying, because of the threats of the wicked; for they bring down suffering on me and assail me in their anger.  神 啊 ， 求 你 留 心 聽 我 的 禱 告 ， 不 要 隱 藏 不 聽 我 的 懇 求 ！求 你 側 耳 聽 我 ， 應 允 我 。 我 哀 歎 不 安 ， 發 聲 唉 哼 ，都 因 仇 敵 的 聲 音 ， 惡 人 的 欺 壓 ； 因 為 他 們 將 罪 孽 加 在 我 身 上 ， 發 怒 氣 逼 迫 我 。(Psalm 55:1-3)

Someone used to say that “Responsibility is our response to God’s ability”. When we entrust our hope in God, we also believe that He is able. Therefore, it is our responsibility to cry out for help when is necessary. In fact, if we look back, mankind is under a dismay condition due to our fore father, Adam, transgressed from God’s command at Garden of Eden. We are all hopeless just like Apostle Paul mentioned “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” 因為世人都犯了罪，虧缺了神的榮耀 (Romans 3:23). Where is our help coming from? The only help – 911 – is from our Lord Jesus Christ! Because, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” 除他以外，別無拯救‧因為在天下人間，沒有賜下別的名，我們可以靠著得救‧(Acts 4:12).

My dear brothers and sisters, it is our responsibility to plead for help from our God instead of from this world, because He is the LORD of lords and He is the King of kings. His 911 hot line is open 24×7 without any technology and location limitations and without any interruption. With its infinite band width, guaranteed response and free of charge, how can we forget Him? May we all remember that He is our help in need – a true 911 hot line.