Hope

This post is a whole four days late to the event that, like it always does, changed the future of leadership in our nation. I wanted to wait a bit until I got my thoughts together and listened to what the Lord might suggest to me. To be frank, I was disappointed and annoyed at the overwhelming doom for America that Christians on social media bemoaned through their phones and keyboards. Is that who we are? I understand feeling saddened by bad policy, even grievously wrong policy. Of course I feel like there were alarming discrepancies that might have been ignored. I especially don’t like that our honorable, godly vice president was succeeded by an obtusely fake, manipulative politician who is a champion of Planned Parenthood, and has a habit of lifting stories from better humans.

It’s okay to think “This isn’t the best turnout” and to express disappointment. We don’t have to fake smiles and pretend everything is perfect. But what in the world are people doing prophesying doom via social media? America has endured and outlived presidents with bad policies. It’s good to be wise and critical of evil policy and poor leaders, but to despair and declare defeat? That’s bizarre and not of God. We can fight injustice and use our votes to combat what violates the image of God! Our freedom is NOT going anywhere!

Here, the Psalmist challenges us to take a long hard look at where we put our trust:

Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God. (Psalm 146:3–5)

Take that as the sweetest, most loving “knock it off and hope already” from the Lord. Men rule and die, and they can do nothing else. When they are gone, they’re gone. Plans come to nothing, and the next ruler enacts their agenda and goals — that is how it has always worked. Good rulers can enact good policy that endures for generations because of godly roots. But our hope was never in President Donald Trump, as much as I respected him and was deeply happy with his attitude toward life and government restrictions. On the other hand, it is absurd to think our hope is somehow removed because someone else is in office.

Read Psalm 146, and come back and answer these questions:

Who is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them?

Who remains faithful forever?

Who upholds the cause of the oppressed?

Who gives food to the hungry?

Who sets prisoners free?

Who restores sight to the blind?

Who lifts up those who are bowed down?

Who loves the righteous?

Who looks after the foreigner, the orphan, the widow?

Who frustrates the ways of the wicked?

Who reigns forever?

The answer to all of these questions is Someone who is eternal, faithful, and so good. There is no doom. America has not fallen. There are dreams and promises that live and breathe and wait to be taken hold of. The Lord is God. If you are despairing over the government, don’t. If you are bitter and grumbling, stop it. There’s no need! Our hope is secure and certain! Our hope is not in princes who cannot truly save, in men and women who live and die just like everyone else.

Our God is the Redeemer. Our God has a destiny and a purpose for America, and it is our responsibility to stand firm with inexhaustible joy and peace.

Don’t be a wilderness generation, fixed on what is wrong, on what used to be “right”, on the emptiness of human power and ability.

Look to the Psalms, look to the testimonies all across Scripture that celebrate the reign of God. There are still explosions of worship and repentance across our nation, and bold people standing firm for life, period. Relax, let go. Stop scrolling through social media and feeding on vitriol and discontent. Stand up and use your voice to declare truth and do what is right, of course — but you should do that anyway!

Once you look outside, you’ll see that the world still turns. The sun hasn’t gone dark. The wind still blows. Your kids need help with homework. On and on the list goes, the wonderful things God has ordained for us. Joy is eternal, executive administrations are not. Rejoice!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4:4)